THE MALE FERN. 181 
Caudex large, tufted, scaly, erect or decumbent, often in age 
becoming considerably elongated, consisting of the bases of the old 
fronds persistent around a woody axis, from the apex of which 
appear the growing fronds. Scales like those at the base of the 
stipites. Fibres protruding from among the bases of the fronds at 
the lower part of the caudex, strong, coarse, dark-coloured, deeply 
penetrating. 
Vernation circinate, the apex of the frond becoming liberated 
before the whole rachis is uncurled, and at this stage bent down- 
wards with a curve resembling that of a shepherd’s crook. 
Stipes short, stout, from three to six inches long, terete, slightly 
channelled in front, densely clothed with large scales of a narrow 
lanceolate attenuate outline, membranaceous chaffy texture, and 
pale brown colour, intermixed with smaller and shorter ones; 
terminal, and adherent to the caudex. Rachis clothed sparingly 
with small subulate scales. 
Fronds averaging two or three feet in height, but varying from 
a foot to four or six feet, according to age, variety, and locality ; 
and when the crown is vertical, arranged in a circlet around it; 
erectish, herbaceous, smooth, of a lively rather deep green, some- 
what paler beneath; broadly lanceolate with a gradually tapering 
apex, or sometimes oblong lanceolate with a sudden acumination 
at the apex; bipinnate. Pinne numerous, alternate or nearly 
opposite, linear, gradually narrowing towards the apex, which is 
acute; the lower ones decreasing in length from about the middle 
of the frond, the lowermost measuring an inch or rather more in 
length in fronds of a foot and a half long, those about the middle 
being three or four inches long; the lower pinne are also more 
distant than those higher up. Pinnules at the base of the pinn® 
distinct, notched on both sides at the base but with a broad attach- 
ment, or sometimes slightly connected, the first pair somewhat 
larger; the rest generally attached by the entire width of their 
base, and more or less combined, with a very narrow sinus; oblong 
obtuse, i. e., of equal width throughout, with the apex rounded, 
slightly crenate or crenate-lobed at the margin, serrated around the 
blunt apex, the teeth acute but not spinulose. 
Venation of the pinnules consisting of a flexuous costa or midvein 


