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be observed, th a t the extremities o f th e p lan t, and o f th e branch itself, are always wider
th an the ir b a s e ; th e ir width, in th e first case, being two o r even thre e lin e s ; in the
other, seldom exceeding a line and a half. I t is o f more rare occurrence th a t th e frond,
fron> a common c entre , is branched in a stellated sort o f manne r : such an appearance is
represented a t tab . 84. f. 9, where the apices have also a slight disposition to be forked.
T h e sutsZance of th e frond is between carnose and membranaceous, thinnest a t th e margin,
where it is often slightly waved, and cu t into deep and obtuse lobes of various sizes, b ut
all o f them la rg e , a t first s ig h t giving the appearance o f closely set, pinnated leaves ; but
th e divisions never reach so fa r down as th e nerve. These lobes are, moreover, o ften
incurved, and particularly so towards th e extremity o f the p lan t (tab. 82. f. 2 ) . The
whole is cellulose, and th e cells tolerably la rge , presenting, on th e exterior surface, a
beautifully reticulated appearance, with ovate areolæ (tab. 83. f. f. 3. 4),
T h ro u g h o u t th e centre o f the frond, and following th e divisions o f the branches to the ir
very extremity, runs a very evident and broad nerve, most p rominent on th e underside,
and marked o n th e up p e r side with numerous lines, as i f th e epidermis lay in plaits or
folds (tab. 82. f. f. 1. 2 , &c.). Sometimes it happens th a t th e nerve is forked w ithin the
extremity o f a simple branch, where probably th e fro n d is about to be extended in a
dichotomous manne r, as I have already noticed in J . furcaia (tab . 82. f. 1).
T h e color o f th e whole p lant is a pale-green, b u t th a t o f th e nerve usually paler th an the
fro n d ; except when th e p lan t is d ry : th e base is often yellow-brown, as i f in a s ta te of
decay.
On the underside o f this species, always upo n th e nerve, and closely appressed to it , are
sc a tte red, apparently a t unequa l distances, small stipulaceous scales, o f an oval form,
flattish (tab . 82. f. f. 10, 1 1 ), and deeply, th o u g h unequally, spinoso-dentate. These
scales m u s t be carefully distinguished from the gemmaceous buds or tu fts, found n ot only
o n th e u p p e r, b u t likewise on the underside o f th e p lan t : b u t th ey are n o t confined to
th e nerve, nor a re they ever single or appressed to th e frond.
M a l e F r u c t i f i c a t i o n , as fa r as I have ye t observed, upon different individuals from th e Female,
(tab . 82. f. 3.)
Anthers two o r thre e in th e same frond, constantly imbedded in th e n e rv e ; covered,
however, only w ith a very th in cuticle, and always visible, n ot only by the different color,
b u t also by a slig h t sweUing of th e nerve where they are s itua ted (tab. 82. f. 3 ). Their
figure is e lliptical, o r nearly ov a te : th e ir color pale greyish. I have n o t been able to
perceive any p o in t o f atta chment to the cell o f th e frond, in which they a re imbedded.
I t requires a h ighly-magnifying power to discover the reticulated appearance o f the anther
(tab, 82. f. 9 ) . W ithin they are filled with an extremely minute, g ranula ted substance.
F e m a l e F r u c t i f i c a t i o n a ris in g from the uppe r side o f the frond, and towards the extremity.
T h e earliest s ta te th a t I have observed of it is represented a t tab. 82. f. f. 5 . 6, and tab. 84. f. 4 .
I n th e first o f these plates a re figured young p istilla q uite exposed, scattered a t various
distances upo n th e nerve, each o f which is nearly linear, b ut a little swelling a t th e base,
and slightly expanded a t the apex, of a greyish color, and striated longitudinally w ith
p ale-red, and marked also with a few transverse lines. Another sta te o f the early
fructification is given a t tab. 84. f. 4, where th e pistilla are represented, equally free from
any calyx o r external covering, collected into small clusters, as they a re within a
p e riebæ tium in every o the r Ju n g e rm an n ia th a t we are acquainted with ( J . Hookeri alone
excepted). These, too, ere upon th e nerve. In th e m idst o f one o f these clnstcrs, I
found a single pisilHim swollen into a ge rmen (tab . 84. f. 6) of an o.ato-lanoeolate form,
and o f a greylsh-hrown color, and tipped with a ra th e r large and perforated style.
I t m ig h t be expected th a t, in a similar situation, tile germen would be seen in a more
advanced s ta te ; h u t th is 1 could never observe to be th e c a se : on tl;e contrary, the
p rogress o f th e fructification seems to he altogellier internal. I have n ot been able to find
an external germen more swollen th an th a t above described; b u t in innumerable instances,
on dissecting fronds, such as are figured a t tab. 83. f. 1 3 ,* having an oval inflation on
the frond, with a s light depression and scar, o r umbilicus, in the centre, I have never
failed to see the germen in different states o f advancement towards ma turity ; and this
will be better understood, by a reference lo tab. 83. f. t. 3, 4. The uppe r individual, a t
f. 13 being dissected longitudinally, and exposed to the microscope, shewed an oblong
hollo’w beneath th e inflation above mentioned (tab. 83. f. 3 ) ; and within it was a calyx
ex ten d in g from th e umbilical ma rk or cicalriee down to th e lower extremity o f th e hollow
or receptacle.
T his calyx is of an oblongo-lanccolate and a cum in a te figure, closed a t th e top, bladder-like,
whitish, membranous, scarcely re ticula ted, seinittansparent, so th a t within is seen the
Germen. already so much swollen as to be of a pyriform figure, tipped with a short, curved
style, and of an olive-green color : a t th e base it is inserted into th e receptacle hy means
o f a small bulb. In its progress towards m a tntily, its increasing size causes th e calyx to
b u r s t, and portions o f it remain attached to the umbilicus (lab. S3, f. 4 ), and a t the
bottom o f th e germen on the receptacle (tab. 83. f. 7 ). T h e Germen is now become of
an oblongo-ovate figure, and th e reticulated appearance o t the outer covering or calyptra
is very s trik in g . Advancing still more, th e fractification bursts open th e upper surface
o t the frond, in a very irreg u la r manner, always above the inflation, and nearly a t th e
apex of th e frond (tab. 33. f. 3 ). - u p !
Cnlyplra, even when about to b u rs t, scarcely exserted above the ap e rtu re o f the frond,
sometimes not a t all so, in which case th e opening is formed by the capsule.
Peduncle white , succulent, from h a lf an inch to an inch long, erect, b u t waved, stna ted,
. and somewhat twisted. _
Capsule ovato-globose, whitish a t th e base, the rest pale olive-brown. I t opens into four
equal, ovate valves, whose texture is, unde r th e microscope, beautifully reticula ted, and
th e borders o f th e areolæ have a dotted appearance (tab. 83. f. 10).
Seeds: these, if removed from the fully formed germen o r young capsule, are roundish, of
an olive-green color, enveloped in a pellucid membrane, ami lying to g e th e r f >n th re e s;
though sometimes only two, and rarely four are found in a c luste r (ta b . 83. f. f. 5. 6). In
th is s ta te o f the fructification, too, th e filamenls are most evidently likewise surrounded
by a pellucid tube. T h e ripe seeds fall from th e capsule singly (tab. 83. f. 11), b u t are
s till within a membrane, and do n ot differ from th e young seeds, except in be ing o f a
d arker color. I can perceive no tubula r membrane about the fully formed spiral filaments.
which a re ra th e r lo n g , closely twisted, and formed of a double helix.
• And the same appearance is represented highly magnihed, on the fronds, a t tab. 83. f. 2. although the capsules
c there exserted. , „ , .
f Such is the case too in J. Hooke-n.
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