TAB. LXXXY. 
Cyathea Cunninghami, Hook. fil. 
Rachi submuricata, fronde tripinnata flaccida, pinnulis sessili- 
bus lineari-elongatis oblongisve obtusis crenato-y. pinna- 
tifido-lobatis, involucris demum laceris y. oblique cyathi- 
formibus, costa submuricata superne strigoso-pubescente 
inferne tomentosa et paleacea v. glabrata. 
Hab. New Zealand, Forster. Wycari river, Bay of Islands, 
A. Cunningham . Mountains of the East Coast and Interior; 
Rev. W. Colenso. 
The finest specimens of this beautiful fern that we have seen 
are Cunningham’s, in our friend Mr. Heward’s herbarium: 
Forster’s consists of a single pinna in the Hookerian herbarium, 
and Mr. Colenso’s are also single pinnae. As a species it is 
intermediate in character between C. medullaris and C. 
Smithii (FI. Nov. Zealand, ined.) differing conspicuously from 
the former in the flaccid, membranous, pale green fronds, 
which are more or less strigose along the costa above, and 
tomentose with mixed palea along both costa and partial 
rachis below : from C. Smithii it is distinguished by the long 
narrow pinnules. The involucre covers the sorus as a delicate 
membrane in its youngest state and then bursts irregularly 
all around, or becoming detached on one side only turns over 
as a shallow cup which finally becomes reflexed and appressed 
to the frond, exactly as in C. Smithii and in many species of 
Hemitelice : both forms of involucre occur on the same frond. 
Main rachis rough with minute . scattered raised points. 
Native name fff Punui,” according to Mr. Colenso. — J.D.H. 
Fig. 1. Portion of rachis and pinnule with reflexed invo- 
lucres. f. 2. Involucre and receptacle, f. 3. Very young 
frond and sori : — all magnified. 
