ETYMOLOGY. 419 



Pleocnemia, pleos, full, knemia, rays ; full of rays ; the 

 venation. 



Pleopeltis, pleos, full, peltis, shield ; the sori being furnished 

 with numerous round scales. 



Pleuridium, pleura, side (ribs) ; the primary veins being 

 costaeform, like ribs. 



Pleurogramma, pleura, side, gramma, a line ; sori on the 

 side of the mid-rib. 



Podopeltis, pous, foot, peltis, a shield ; the indusium. 



Poecilopteris, po&kilos, spotted, pteris ; the appearance of 

 the venation. 



Polybotrya, polys, many, lotrys, bunch ; the fructification 

 being in bunch-like racemes. 



Polypodium, polys, many, pous, foot ; polypus ; the rhizome, 

 when destitute of the fronds, having the appearance of 

 some kind of sea-polypus. 



Polystichum, polys, many, stichos, order ; not especially 

 applicable to the genus Polystichum, as now defined. 



Prosaptia ; sori immersed in the margin of the frond. 



Psomiocarpa, psomion, a small pellet, Jcarpa, fruit; the 

 sporangia being in small round patches, in spikes. 



Pteris, pteryx, wing ; the scientific name given to the plant 

 known by the names of Brake, Bracken, and Fern ; on 

 account of the supposed likeness of the branching of 

 its fronds to wings. This, being the commonest of all 

 Ferns, has become the type of the whole race ; hence 

 Pteris means Fern, all generic names of Perns ending 

 in pteris ; such as Ceratopteris means horned Fern, 

 Dichjoptens netted Fern; also, if at the beginning of 

 a word, as Pteridogrctpliy, a book or writing' on Ferns ; 

 Pteridologist, a studier and writer on Ferns; Pteri- 

 dophilist, a lover of Ferns. 



