sent species is the one which has perhaps attained the greatest 
size in a state of cultivation. Our principal plant was presented 
to the Royal Gardens by his Royal Highness the Prince Consort ; 
in eight years it has doubled its size, and at this time (1860), 
with its tub (much too small for it), it stands twenty feet from 
the ground to the summit of its noble crown of leaves. But this 
is small, compared to the size of one of which we possess a 
drawing, by favour of Dr. Sinclair, from a native specimen grow- 
ing within reach of the spray of a cascade in New Zealand, which 
is, we believe, estimated at eighty feet. Dr. Hooker mentions 
the stems or caudices measuring from six to eight feet in cir- 
cumference, and with fronds eighteen feet long. Mr. Bracken- 
ridge describes the trunk fifteen to thirty feet long. No doubt, 
it varies much according to locality. The young undeveloped 
stipites and fronds are densely clothed with very long, crisped, 
glossy, silky, paleaceous, dark-brown fibres, forming a felt all 
over, which gradually falls off as the fronds are perfected: then 
the rich purple-black of the muricated stipes, with a glaucous 
coating or bloom, like that of a plum, is apparent. The pin- 
nules vary in being more or less toothed or pinnatifidy some- 
times nearly entire, the margins often reflexed. ‘The sterile pin- 
nules are broader than the fertile ones. This is one of several 
New Zealand Ferns, of which the pith-like core or centre, in a 
glutinous semifluid state, and presenting a medullary substance 
(whence the specific name), used to be extensively eaten by the 
Aborigines ; but now the more civilized condition of the Natives 
has taught them to prefer more substantial and nourishing food. 
Puate 25. Fig. 1. Fertile plant of Cyathea medullaris, Sw..—a much 
reduced figure. 2. Portion of a secondary pinna of ditto,—natural size. 3. 
Pinnule, with sori,—magnified. 4,5, 6. Sori indifferent states of maturity,— 
more magnified. 
