eu. GEITBBA OP FEBNS : 



profess to reject yenation as a generic character, as in reality, a, 

 tacit admission of its importance. 

 Ex, : H. Brownii, J". Sm. 



Order^rOJjYFODIACEM. 2V»ie— CfTATHEIHE^. 



§ 1 THXESOPTEBIDEiE. 



144. THYRSOPTEEIS, Kunze, Unntea. is. 507; Id., 



SchJcuhr, Sapp. i 3, 1. 1. 



FAsncui^ABiA, CoUa, 



Sort involucrate, globose, obliquely-refleied on tliyrsoid pani- 

 cles ; the receptacles large, globose, spongy, terminating the 

 rachiform segments of the fertile portions. Involucres coriaceous, 

 cnp-shaped, entire, petiolate. Veins (of tertiary sterile pinnnles) 

 pinnate; venules simple or forked, &ee, the thickened apices 

 terminating within the margin. 



Fronds large snpradecomponnd, the basal pinnnles of the 

 lower pinnse fertile with contracted rachiform nnisoriferons 

 ultimate segments ; stipes seyeral (4 — 5) feet long, " as thick 

 as a walking stick," criniferons at the base ; leafy portion four 

 to fire feet long, the lowest pinnse about t-wo feet. Ehizome 

 short thick decumbent, tufted. — A very curious large-growing 

 fern, remaf ksble for the production of distinct contracted fertile, 

 and leafy barren portions, intermixed on the decompound fronds, 

 by which character it is known &om the other genera of the 

 cyatheaceons group. 

 Ex. ; T. elegans, Kze, 



§ 2 CxATHEiE. 

 (a) Iiwolucres complete cup-shaped. 



145. CTATHEA, Smith, Mem. Acad. Tunn. ». 416. 



Sph^boptbbis, Bemliardi; Disphbwia, Fresl^ NoTociBPLA, ^resl; 

 ScHizoc^iTA, J. Smith; PoLTPODii Gp.,Auct.j AliSopKii^£ sp., Auct.; 



TTbvtttit.t a? sp., Auct. 



Sori involucrate, globose; the receptacles columnar or globose, 

 axillary at the forking of a vein, or medial. Involucre membra- 



