164 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ JULV, 
The present species belongs to the Leptopteris group, which, however, does 
not present any sufficient differential characters to separate it from Todea, the 
thin texture and pellucid character of the fronds affording the only marks of 
distinction. The species now under notice is, no doubt, closely allied to Todea 
Fraseri ; but is of larger growth, with an arborescent habit, while the lower 
pinnae are distinct and deflexed, and the rachis is hairy. Mr. Baker, indeed, 
makes it a variety of T. Fraseri^ but the two plants are distinct enough for all 
garden purposes. 
Mr. Brackenridge, who has given an excellent figure in the volume of the 
United States’ Exploring Expedition, devoted to Ferns, describes the trunk as 
attaining from 18 in. to 20 in. in height and an inch and a half in diameter. 
It is scaly towards the top, and produces from near the base black wiry roots, 
about the thickness of a crowquill, while the surface is roughened by the raised 
scars of fronds that have fallen off, and the summit is crowned by from 10 to 12 
spreading fronds, of a broadly-lanceolate outline, and 2 ft. or upwards in length. 
The pinnae are sessile, oblong-lanceolate, spreading, the two or three lower pairs 
