146 G L E IC H E N IA D IC H O T OM A .
N a tiv e of th e E a s t Inclics, Ma lay Islan d s, N ep a l, Sylhet,
Tenesserim, Singapore, China, Ceylon, Ma labar, P h ilip p in e
Islands, Assam, P u lo P en an g , M a u ritiu s, Ja v a , Madagascar,
Fe rn an d o P o , Brazil, Bahia , Islands of Tobago, and T rin id ad .
T h e stipes, which is ro u n d ed and somewhat h irsu te , bears
ultimate branches, with a p a ir of pinna; two inches and a h a lf
wide, and from six to twelve inches long, and anoth e r p a ir
also at th e base of the di-triohotomy, n o t of th e frond. The
pinnie are lanceolate-acuminate and p innatifid, the segments
linear-obtuse or emarginate, th e lower ex te rn a l ones usua lly
th e la rg e st; apices rounded.
Sori consisting o f from ten to twelve capsules, punctiform,
an d naked.
F ro n d s g labrous, glaucous beneath.
Veins b ranched.
Brownish stalks, rising from fast-creeping, stout, w iry stems.
llh izom a creeping.
T h e va rie ty known as Me rtensia muoronata of Keinwardt,
has very bro ad pinme, and a caudate ap ex : it is the Gleichenia
rig id a of J . Smith.
Gleichenia dichotoma attains a h e ig h t o f from five to six
feet.
F o r a p lan t my thanks are due to M r. Moore, of th e
Glasnevin Gard en s, D u b lin ; and for fronds to Mr. J . Smith,
C u ra to r of th e Ilo y a l Gardens, K ew ; M r. Sim, o f F o o t’s
C ra y ; and M r. V e itch , J u n ., of th e E x o tic N u r s e ry , Chelsea.
T h is species may be p ro cu red of Messrs. V e itch , Ju n ., of
Chelsea: Mr. 11. Sim, of F o o t’s C ra y ; and M r. E . G. H en d e rso n ,
o f th e W e llin g to n N u rse ry .
T h e illustration is from fronds forwarded h y M r. J . Smith,
of Kew.
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