A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
189 
CY ATHK A— contimied. 
colour above and very glaucous or silvery beneath; they 
are twice or thrice divided to the midrib, and some- 
what spear-shaped, and are divided into narrow, pointed 
leafits which have their sickle-shaped segments conspicu- 
ously toothed. The reddish-brown sori, which form a most 
interesting feature, are abundant, and produce a most 
pleasing contrast with the white under-side of the leaflets 
(a peculiarity responsible for the specific name), to the 
lower half of which they are sometimes confined, though 
usually disposed midway between the midvein and the 
margin ; they are covered by roundish involucres of a thin 
and more or less transparent nature, which break down in 
an irregular manner. Planted in a conservatory and in a 
somewhat elevated position, C. dealhata makes a very noble 
object, and the peculiar colour of the under-side of its 
fronds shows itself to perfection Avhen seen by artificial 
light. 
C. Dregei. 
A stove species, also known as C. Burhei, native of 
Natal, Macalisberg, and Zambesi Land^ with a trunk seldom 
more than 4ft. high and very thick Its fronds are twice 
divided to the midrib, borne on smooth stalks, and furnished 
with stalkless leafits 2in. to Sin. long, which are also cut 
into blunt, somewhat sickle-shaped, and more or less deeply- 
toothed lobes. The sori, disposed half-way between the mid- 
vein and the margin, are covered by thin, fragile involucres, 
which, opening at the summit, form cups with a small, 
slightly irregular margin. 
C. insi^nis. 
This truly magnificent stove species, usually found in 
collections under the names of C. princeps and Cihotium 
princeps, is a native of Cuba, Mexico, and St. Catherine's 
Peak. It forms a stout trunk of large dimensions, pro- 
ducing numerous beautifully arching fronds from 10ft. to 
12ft. long, borne on robust stalks thickly covered at their 
base and up to the leafy portion with long, glossy, light 
brown scales, but eventually becoming whitish, and quite 
brittle. They are tripinnate, having stalkless leaflets, pin- 
natifid nearly to the midrib, land divided into oblong-sickle - 
shaped, sinuate or toothed lobes, with slightly reflexed 
margins. The bright green colour of the upper surface 
of the fronds forms a pleasing contrast to the beautifully 
bluish-green hue of their under-side. The abundant sori 
are provided with very peculiar cinnabar-brown involucres, 
often breaking down into four nearly equal valves. 
