
s
: ì k,
T H R S 0 P T E i; I S E L K; G A N S. S M A L L F R O N D .
X X X J V - V O L . 8.
Fertile portion.
THYRSOPTERIS ELEGANS.
K u n z e . H o o k e r . ,T. S m it h . F e e .
P L .A T E X X X IV . V O L . V I I I .
P a n icu ia ria Pe rteri, A. C o l l a .
Thyrsopteris—From tlie Greek, thyrsus—a spear entwined with ivy,
and pieron—a wing. Plegans—Elegant.
A V E R Y beautiful, ra re F e rn , of la rg e size, and liaving sterile
and fertile pinna; on th e same fro n d , th e b a rre n fro n d having
a D avallia appearance.
An evergreen stove species.
N a tiv e of J u a n F e rn an d e z , in h ab itin g moist woods, and sbady
a n d mountainous situations.
F ro n d s supra-decompound, glabrous, and coriaceous, pinnae
a lternate, tb e pinnae and pinnules approximate, tb e basal p in nules
of th e lower pinnae fe rtile , having contracted, rachiform,
uuisoriferous, ultimate segments. In th e fertile fronds th e
foliaceous substance is wan tin g , and tbe racbis and veins are
tb ick en ed , forming a mucb compound raceme or panicle.
Stipes an d rachis rem a rk ab ly th ic k , th e main rachis woolly,
and having a p ro found furrow on one side. Stipes from fifty
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