HEMITELIA. 



297 



H. tahitensis — ta-hi-ten'-sis (from Tahiti), Baker. 



A stove species, of large dimensions, native of the Society Islands, with 

 ample fronds three times divided to the midrib, and spear-shaped leaflets, 1ft. 

 or more long, furnished with sessile, ligulate pinnules (stalkless, strap-shaped 

 leafits) 2in. to Sin. long, of a somewhat leathery texture and densely hairy 

 on the ribs of their upper surface. The sori (spore masses) are disposed on 

 the midvein, and covered with a half-cupshaped, entire involucre. This is 

 the H. Duri'illei of gardens. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 455. 



H. Walkerae— Walk'-er-£e (Mrs. 4 ^^.^ 



Walker's), Hooker. y, 

 A handsome species, native of ^ 

 Ceylon, where it is found at an alti- 

 tude of 6000ft. Its ample fronds, 

 bi- or tripinnate (twice or three times 

 divided to the midrib), of a thick, 

 firm, leathery texture, are borne 

 on smooth or slightly rough stalks. 

 The leaflets, l^it. long, are fur- 

 nished with pinnules (leafits) Sin. 

 to 4in. long, cleft sometimes nearly, 

 sometimes c|uite, to the midrib, 

 forming oblong, very blunt, entire 

 or slightly -notched lobes, often scaly 

 on the ribs beneath. The spore 

 masses occupy the lowest forking 

 of the veins close to the midrib, 

 and are furnished with a large, 

 roundish involucre, at first covering 



the lower half of the sorus (spore mass), and at length more or less reflexed 

 (thrown back) and often two-lobed ; but in the way of fructification this 

 species is very variable, some specimens of it ha^dng the characters of 

 true Hemitelias, some resembling Alsophilas, while others have involucres 

 nearly hke those of Cyatheas. It is the Amphicosmia Walkerce of Moore. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 24. 



Fig. 78, Hemitelia speciosa 

 (much reduced). 



