173 



HYMENOPHYLLUM DILATATUM. 



SWARTZ. SCHKUIJR. WiLLDENOW. HoOKER AND GrEVILLE. 



PLATE LXX. 

 Trichomanes dilatatum, Foestee. Blume. 



Hymenophyllum — Membrane-leaved. Dilatatum — Dilated. 



One of the largest and most beautiful of this lovely genus, 

 growing among moss, decaying vegetable matter, and on rocks 

 and trunks of trees in woods of New Zealand and Java. 



The fronds are large, broad, and oblong; erect, and tripin- 

 natifid; the primary divisions ovate-lanceolate; the segments 

 attenuated, gracefully drooping, and entire. 



Stipes and rachis erect, pale green in colour, and winged. 



Length of frond from fourteen to twenty inches; colour pale 

 green. 



Involucres abundant on the upper half of the frond, ter- 

 minal, orbicular, the lower half cuneate, and buried in the 

 frond; the valves semi-orbicular and entire; receptacles clavate. 



Rhizoma smooth, and brownish straw-coloured. 



Eeq^uires a very humid, shady, close atmosphere, ranging in 

 temperature from 40° to 65°. 



For fronds my thanks are due to Messrs. Backhouse, of 

 York. 



