BOTANY. 
353 
plants growing from tlie surface of tlie leaflets. Alt. 4 to 5 - 4. Hk. 
and B. Syn. Fil. 1868, p. 207. — Hab. Also Cape of Good Hope, 
Bourbon, Mauritius, Madagascar, &c. 
889. *A platybasis, Kunze. — A Fern with fronds a about twelve 
to eighteen inches in length, though rare, found growing on the 
grassy banks on the north side of the central ridge near Taylor’s 
Flat. Alt. 4. Hk. & B. Syn. Fil. 1868, p. 206. 
Cheilanthes, Swartz. 
S90. *C. multifida, Swartz. — Tlie most beautiful and delicate 
little Fern, perhaps, of all found in the Island. Its habits of growth 
and locality resemble closely those of Gymnogramme Haughtoni, being 
usually found amongst rocks and stones on the somewhat barren and 
exposed portions of the Island, at High Knoll, High Hill, Bed 
Hill, Thompson’s Hill, the Friar Bock, Sandy Bay, &c. The 
fronds are from three to twelve inches in length. The plant generally 
dies away after the rainy season is over. Hk. & B. Syu. Fil. 1868, 
p. 138. — Hab. Also Cape of Good Hope and Java. 
Dicksonia, L’PIerit. 
891. *D. arborescens, L’Herit. ; D. auricoma, Spreng. ; 1). 
Integra, Sw. ; Balantiim auricomum, Kaulf. ; B. arborescens , Hk. — 
The Tree Fern of the Island ; growing on the central ridge at 
Diana’s and High Peaks, at alt. from 4’8 to 5 '4 ; its upright stem 
varies from six to eight inches in diameter, and from four to ten feet 
in height, more or less covered with long bright golden-brown hair, 
intermixed with parasitical plants, and topped with a splendid crown 
of bright green fronds, much resembling a miniature palm-tree; 
it is exceedingly picturesque amongst the other Ferns and native 
vegetation. 
Dr. Boxburglr describes the size of this fern as twenty feet or more 
in height, and of various thicknesses up to that of a man’s body, with 
fronds (including the stipes) from four to ten feet long. As it does 
not now attain that size, it may be considered that, like other 
indigenous plants, it is degenerating, and gradually dying out. 
Hk. & B. Syn. Fil. 1868, p. 50— Plate 54. 
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