204 THE FERN PARADISE. 



wards. The frond is divided into narrow taper- 

 ing branches alternately placed along and on 

 each side of the mid-stem or rachis. These 

 branches are again divided into leaflets, each 

 leaflet being wing-shaped and attached to the 

 mid-stem of the branch by a short but distinct 

 stalk. The arrangement of these leaflets is as 

 follows : The mid-stems of the branches which, 

 as before stated, run at intervals along each side 

 of the rachis are placed at right angles with the 

 latter. On these branch mid-stems are arranged, 

 in the most beautiful order, wing-shaped leaflets 

 one row above and one row underneath the 

 stem. The first leaflet next the rachis, on the 

 upper part of each stem, is much larger than 

 the others, but with this exception all the leaflets 

 gradually become diminished in size as they 

 proceed from the rachis towards the point of 

 each branch. This gradation of leaflets over and 

 under the stem goes on until the branch ends 

 in a point Each leaflet is sharply spiked or 

 toothed, and hence the prickly appearance of this 

 fern. The fronds are dark green in colour and 



