282 44. NEPIIRODIUM, LA.STREA. 



lower pinnae much the largest, 6-12 in. 1., 3-6 in. br. ; pinnl. of the lowest side 

 the largest, often 6 in. 1., 2 in. br., with distinct, one-sided, lanceolate scgm. 

 with close slightly-toothed linear-oblong lobes ; texture firm ; rachises villose ; 

 under side nearly naked ; sori small, 6-8 round the edge of the larger lobes. 

 Hk. Sp. 4. p. 135. t. 265. 



Hab. Philippines, Neilgherries, and Ceylon. In its mode of growth this agrees 

 with the two preceding. Our description is taken from living specimens sent by 

 Dr. Thwaites. 



125. N. (Last.) Vieillardii, Baker ; st. strong, erect, slightly fibrillose towards 

 the base; fr. 12-18 in. 1., 1 ft. or more br., deltoid; lowest pinnce 6-8 in. 1., 

 3-5 in. br., the lowest pinnl. the largest, the others lanceolate, cut down nearly 

 to the rachis at the base into entire or toothed linear- obiong lobes ; texture sub- 

 coriaceous ; rachis and both sides naked ; sori small, medial. Aspid. Mett. Fil. 

 Nov. Cal. p. 75. 



Hab. New Caledonia, Vieillard, 1604, 1610. Largest uncut ultimate lobes 2 lin. br., 

 3 lin. deep, and texture like that of Polystichum. 



******* Fronds ample (more than 1^-2 ft. 1., 1 ft. br.), decompound. 

 Sp. 126-153. Involucre often small and fugacious. 



f Texture herbaceous. Sp. 12G-146 



126. N. (Last.) dissectum, Desv. ; st. tufted, 1 ft. or more 1., rather slender, 

 glossy, clothed with linear dark-brown scales towards the base ; fr. 1-5 ft. 1., 

 1-3 ft. br., deltoid ; lower pinnce varying from simply pinnatifid, with broad 

 blunt lobes, to 1 ft. 1., with similar pinnatifid pinnl., the centre usually uncut for 

 a breadth of ^-^ in., and the uncut bluntish or acute ult. divisions as broad ; 

 colour bright-green ; texture papyraceo-herbaceous ; rachis and both surfaces 

 nearly naked ; sori copious, generally submarginal ; invol. flat, -f lin. br. 

 Polypodium, Forst. ! N. membranifolium, Presl. Hk. Sp. 4, p. 131. 



Hab. N. India and Philippines to Samoa, New Caledonia, Ceylon, S.W. Australia, 

 and Madagascar. Habit of ^V. cicutarium, and similarly variable in size, but the veins 

 only casually uniting. A. Gardnen-ianum, Mett., is doubtless the same, and P. Milnei 

 is evidently a compound non-indusiate form. Probably it is A. sinuatum, Labill., but 

 the figure represents the stem as too scaly and the involucre as orbicular. 



127. N. (Last.) Milnei, Hk. ; st. 1 ft. or more 1., naked, polished, ebeneous ; fr. 

 1^-2 ft. 1., 1 ft. or more br., subdeltoid ; lower pinnce much the largest, 6-9 in. 1., 

 4-5 in. br. ; pinnl. close* lanceolate, cut down throughout to a narrowly-winged 

 rachis into narrowly-oblong, crenated or pinnatifid lobes ; texture subcoriaceous; 

 rachises ebeneous ; both surfaces naked ; colour deep green ; veinlets immersed; 

 the sori terminal on short lateral branches. Hk. Sp. 4. p. 143. 2nd Cent. t. 62. 



Hab. Fiji, Milne. Somewhat doubtfully distinct from the preceding, but the texture 

 is firmer and the stem ebeneous. 



128. N. (Last.) splendens, Hk. ; st. 2-3 ft. ]., stout, polished, chesnut-brown 

 or nearly black, deciduously scaly; fr. 3-4 ft. 1., l|-2 ft. br. ; lower pinna; 

 often 1 ft. 1., 2 in. br., close, lanceolate ; pinnl. lanceolate-oblong, unequal-sided, 

 blunt a broad central portion uncut ; texture subcoriaceous ; rachis naked, 

 chesnut-brown ; both sides naked ; veinlets forked ; sori in rows near the midrib. 

 Hk. Sp. 4. p. 126. 



Hab. Sikkim, Bootan, Malaccas. In habit this comes nearest the large compound 

 forms of Filix-mas, but the dark-coloured polished rachis will at once distinguish it. 



129. N. (Last.) latifrons, Hk. ; caud. oblique ; st. about 1 ft. 1., strong, 

 densely clothed with deciduous scales; fr. 2-3 ft. 1., subdeitoid ; lower pinnce 





