290 



as it does not fall off with the fronds on which it is dependent, but remains 

 behind, giving the trunk all the appearance, of being covered with very 

 minutely-divided Filmy Ferns. In fact, the resemblance is such that Kaulfuss, 

 in mistake, named the growth Trichomanes (?) cormophyllum. The trunk, slender 

 and seldom perfectly straight, in some instances reaches a height of 15ft., 

 though lOft. to 12ft. is more its usual height. The fronds, which are some- 

 what sparingly produced, are from 3ft. to 5ft. in length and furnished with 

 lanceolate pinna3 (spear-shaped leaflets), terminating in a sharp point and deeply 

 pinnatifid (divided almost to the base), forming sharp -pointed, sickle-shaped 

 segments of a thin, papery texture, and dented hke a saw. They are of 

 a particularly light green colour, and the much-elevated and mostly solitary 

 sori (spore masses) are situated at the forking of the base of the lowest vein 

 on the upper part of the segments. Besides the singular growth above 

 mentioned, this species dilFers from nearly all other Hemitelias, as also from 

 nearly all Dicksonias, Alsophilas, and Cyatheas, in producing on the sides of 

 its trunk lateral growths which, when detached, reproduce plants exactly 

 similar to the parent plant. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 36. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 135. Loiue, Ferns British and Exotic, viii., 

 t. 62 (as Alsophila ca])ensis). 



H. COStaricensis — cos-ta-ri-cen'-sis (from Costa Rica), Mettenius. 



A native of the above-named habitat and also of Panama, with ample 

 fronds three times divided nearly to the midrib and furnished at their base 

 with broad, brown, pale-edged scales. The leaflets are spear-shaped and 

 furnished with sessile, ligulate pinnules (stalkless, strap-shaped leafits) cut 

 down to a narrow wing into oblong, nearly sickle-shaped, sharp-pointed 

 segments of a somewhat leathery texture and sparsely bristly on the ribs on 

 their under-surface. The sori (spore masses), which are disposed close to the 

 midrib, are diminutive yet distinct. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 455. 



H. decipiens — de-cip'-i-ens (deceiving), Scott. 



This species, which, according to Beddome, is a native of the tropical 

 forests of Sikkim, where it was discovered by Dr. Anderson growing at 2000ft. 

 elevation, is called " Puysheck Nock " by the Lepchas, and is also known in 

 gardens as Alsophila decipiens. It is a robust-growing kind ; its large fronds 

 are tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib), and the pinnse (leaflets) are 



