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184 ALSOPHILA PRDINATA.
A VERY b e a u t i f u l l a r g e - g r o w i n g s p e c i e s , a n d e x c e e d in g l y
d i s t in c t .
A n evergreen stove F e rn .
Na tiv e of Jamaica, Brazil, Chili, Mexico, J u a n F e rn an d e z ,
Conception Islan d , Valdivia, Columbia, Venezuela, Caraccas,
N ew G ranada, and Chilce.
F ro n d s b ipinnate and ovate-lanceolate; pinnules v ery numerous,
lanceolate, p rofoundly pinnatifid, and n o t much exceeding an
in ch in le n g th ; segments ovate-lanceolate, v ery acute, an d
sinuato-serrate.
Veins simple.
A solitary sorus at th e base of each segment.
Ra chis and stipes w ith soft woolly hairs.
L e n g th o f frond from four to six fe e t; colour lig h t g re e n
on th e u p p e r surface, and v e ry glaucous ben e a th , almost
silvery, in d e ed as much so as th e Cyathea dealhata.
Sir W . J . H o o k e r remarks th a t it is an ab u n d an t Jamaica
F e rn , and th a t it has a stem from th re e to e ig h t feet in
h e ig h t, th e stipes perfe c tly smooth, an d th a t Mr. Douglas
compares it to a small pine tre e , leafy at th e top.
F o r fronds I must ten d e r my th an k s to Mr. G. N o rm an , of
H u ll.
T his p lan t can be p ro cu re d of Messrs. V e itch , of Chelsea;
Sim, of F o o t’s C ra y ; K en n ed y , o f Covent G a rd e n ; and Booth,
o f H am b u rg .
T h e illustration is from a frond forwarded b y Mr. Norman.
18.5
OSMUNDEHfi.
GENUS II.
T O D FA . W i l l d e n o w .
F r o n d s bipinnatifid, fertile fronds subcontracted. Veins forked,
venules free. Sori n aked. Allied to Osmunda.
A small genus, of which two only are in tro d u c ed into E n g land,
namely, Todea afi'icana, and T. hymenophylloides, both
natives of th e southe rn hemisphere.
For Geuns I, Osmunda, see pages 1 to 10 o f the present volume.