CYATHEA. 



83 



midrib), of a somewhat leathery texture, and have their under-side more 

 or less copiously clothed with rusty-brown down and scurfy with small 

 and often bubble-Hke scales. The sori (spore masses), situated near the 

 midvein, are covered by roundish involucres of a fragile nature, eventually 

 breaking down very irregularly. — Hooher^ Species Filicum, i., p. 18, t. 9b. 



C. incana — in-ca'-na (hoary), Karsten. 



A greenhouse species, native of the Andes of Columbia, with ample 

 fronds of singular appearance on account of the grey colour of their rachis 

 (stalk of the leafy portion). The upper surface of the somewhat leathery 

 leaflets is of a dark green colour, while the lower surface, and especially the 

 midrib, is densely clothed with minute, fimbriate (fringed) scales. The sori 

 (spore masses), situated on the midvein, are covered by small involucres of 

 a densely hoary nature. — Hooker^ Synopsis Filicum, p. 18. 



Fig. 76, Pinnule of Cyatiiea insignis 

 0, nafc. size). 



C. insignis — in-sig'-nis (remarkable), Eaton. 



This truly magnificent, stove species, usually fomid in collections under 

 the names of C. priiiceps and Cihotium jjrincejjs, is a native of Cuba, Mexico, 

 and St. Catherine's Peak, where it grows at an elevation of about 5000ft. 

 It forms a stout trunk of large dimensions, producing numerous beautifully 

 arching fi-onds from 10ft. to 12ft. long, borne on robust stalks thickly 

 covered at their base and up to the leafy portion with long, glossy scales of 

 a fight brown colour, but eventually whitish, and quite brittle to the touch. 



G 3 



