282 



F I L I C E S. 



This fine Tree-Fern has a trunk from 15 to 30 feet high, ter- 

 minated by numerous large fronds, which are often 15 feet in length, 

 including their stipe, and form a rather loose and irregular crown or 

 head. 



3. Cyathea canaliculata, Willd. 



G. stipite crasso minutim tuberculato; frondibus bipinnatis subcoriaceis ; 

 pinnulis dlternis oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis profunde pinnatifidis 

 utrinque glabris, segmentis lineari-oblongis obtusis serratis, infimis 

 scepe lobato-pinnatifidis ; rhaclii commimi antice canaliculata, par- 

 tialibus supra plus minus tomentods ; vents subtus prominulis bis term 

 furcatis; soris a coeta subremotis; indusio membranaceo irregulariter 

 rumjpente. 



Cyathea canaliculata, Willd. Herb, ex Spreng. Syst. Veg. 4, p. 126; Hook. Spec. 

 Fil. 1, p. 23, t. 11, B. 



Hab. Tahiti, Society Islands : in mountain forests. 



Stipe thick, beset with minute tubercles on the surface. The fronds 

 are large, somewhat coriaceous, bipinnate, smooth on both sides, and of a 

 pale green colour when dry; the pinnules alternate, somewhat over 6 

 inches in length and W inches broad, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, 

 pinnate at the base, deeply pinnatifid towards the point ; the base 

 of the sinuses angular. Segments linear-oblong, broad at the base, 

 obtuse at the point, the margin irregularly serrated or toothed; the 

 2 or 3 inferior pairs again slightly pinnatifid. Main rhachis channelled 

 in front; the secondary rhachis, together with the costa of the pin- 

 nules above, furnished with a short and pale brown tomentum. Veins 

 prominent on the under side, twice or thrice forked in a branching 

 manner. Sori at some distance from the costa, having a membranaceous 

 indusium which bursts irregularly. 



The figure of this species in Hooker's Species Filicum is a very fair 

 illustration of a like portion of our plant. The specimens were young 

 when collected; the short tomentum present on the rhachis may 

 disappear in age. 



