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Todea (Named in honour of Henry)

(named in honour of Henry Julius Tode, of Mecklenburg, 1733-1797, an experienced mycologist). Crape Fern. Including Leptopteris (of Presl). ORD. Filices. A genus comprising about five species of greenhouse Ferns, almost confined to the South temperate zone, having the capsules of Osmunda, but the ordinary habit of Polypodium. Sori on the back of the leafy part of the frond. Todeas thrive in the cool house, and prove very ornamental if planted in moist, sheltered places in the open fernery. If rapid growth be desired, the plants should be grown in the tropical fernery, in a close case. The best soil is one composed of fibrous peat and silver sand. ample shade must be afforded, and the fronds frequently moistened by sprinklings of water. See also Ferns. T. africana (African). A synonym of T. barbara.

T. barbara (Barbary).* cau. sub-arborescent. sti. 1ft. or more long, stout, erect, quadrangular, quite naked. fronds 3ft. to 4ft. long, often 1ft. broad; pinnae close, erecto-patent, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long, 1/8in. to 1/4in. broad, the edge more or less distinctly toothed, the upper ones connected at the base. sori dense, when mature filling up the whole under surface of the pinnules on which they are placed. Australia and New Zealand, 1869.(B. M. 5954.) SYNS. T. africana, T. rivularis.

T. Fraseri (Fraser's). cau. erect, woody, 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. high, 1 1/2in. to 2in. thick. sti. 6in. to 9in. long, firm, erect, naked. fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, 8in. to 12in. broad, bipinnate; pinnae close, lanceolate, 4in. to 6in. long, 3/4in. to 7/8in. broad, with a narrowly-winged rachis, the lowest about equal to the others; pinnules linear-oblong, 1/2in. long, 1/8in. to 1/6in. broad, sharply toothed, the rachises naked. Australia, 1861. SYN. Leptopteris Fraseri.

T. F. Wilkesiana (Wilkes'). fronds larger than in the type; lower pinnae rather shorter than the others, and deflexed; rachises slightly pilose. Fiji and New Hebrides, 1870.

T. hymenophylloides (Hymenophyllum-like).* sti. tufted, 6in. to 12in. long, firm, erect, naked. fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, 8in. to 12in. broad, tripinnatifid; pinnae close, lanceolate, 4in. to 6in. long, 3/4in. to 1 1/4in. broad, the rachis winged only towards the apex, the lowest about equal to the others; pinnules close, linear-oblong, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, 1/4in. broad, cut down nearly to the rachis into erecto-patent, simple or forked, linear segments; rachises naked or slightly tomentose. New Zealand.(H. G. F. 54.) SYN. T. pellucida.

T. h. compacta (compact). A variety far closer and denser in form than the type.

T. pellucida (pellucid). A synonym of T. hymenophylloides. T. rivularis (brook-loving). A synonym of T. barbara. T. superba (superb).* cau. erect, woody, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high sti. 2in. to 3in. long, firm, erect, naked. fronds 2ft. to 4ft. long, 6in. to 10in. broad, tripinnatifid; pinnae close, narrow-lanceolate, the central ones 4in. to 5in. long, 5/8in. broad, the lower ones gradually reduced; pinnules close, linear-oblong, 1/4in. to 3/8in. long, cut down nearly to the rachis into erecto-patent, simple or forked, linear segments; rachises densely tomentose. New Zealand, 1861. A splendid plant for exhibition purposes.