CYATHEA. 



87 



Species Filicum, i., p. 27 ; Garden Ferns, t. 25. Nicholso^i, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, i., p. 415. Lowe, Ferris British and Exotic, viii., t. 57. 



C. medullaris is of very rapid growth ; when planted in a conservatory 

 where plenty of room can be allowed for its perfect development, it makes 

 a good- sized stem or trunk in a comparatively short time, and proves by 

 far the most imposing of all known Tree Ferns which will succeed under 

 cool treatment. 



C. meridensis — me-rid-en'-sis (from Merida), Karsten. 



A greenhouse species, native of Merida, Columbia, where it is found 

 growing at an altitude of 6000ft. It is of medium growth only, and is 

 distinguished from nearly all other species through the sessile (stalkless) 

 character of its pinnules (leafits), which are spear-shaped, Sin. to 4in. long, 

 cut down to a narrow wing, of a firm texture, smooth on their upper surface, 

 but scaly on the ribs on their under-side. The small, roundish sori (spore 

 masses) are covered by smooth involucres that break up irregularly. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 450. 



C. mexicana — mex-ic-a'-na (Mexican), Schlechtendahl. 



This greenhouse species, native of Mexico, frequently found in collections 

 under the name of C. Lindeniana, is smooth- stemmed. Its fronds are bipinnate 

 (twice divided to the midrib), their smooth, spear-shaped pinnules (leafits), 

 Sin. to 4in. long, being cut into oblong, slightly sickle-shaped lobes that are 

 somewhat blunt and toothed. The sori (spore masses) are disposed chiefly 

 at the lower half of the lobe, on the back of a simple vein or at the forking 

 of a divided vein, and are covered by very thin and fragile involucres, which 

 are soon obliterated. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 15. 



C. microphylla— mi-croph-yF-la (small-leaved), Mettenius. 



This remarkable and most distinct, greenhouse species, native of the 

 Andes of Peru and Ecuador, is a miniature Tree Fern with very finely-divided 

 fronds and the smallest pinnules (leafits) of any species in the genus. Its 

 trunk, which seldom exceeds 4ft. in height, produces fronds 2ft. to 3ft. long, 

 oblong-egg- shaped, sharp-pointed, and tripinnate (three times divided to the 

 midrib). The broadly- oblong, sharp-pointed leaflets are stalkless, and their 



