DAVALLIA DICTYOGLOSSUM. 38 



of being finely cut, consist of only five narrow divisions. They 

 are of a very dark shining green. The rhizomes are thin, and 

 lengthen very quickly ; they often hang down several feet in 

 length. 



D. POLYANTHA (Many-flowered, referring to the sori). This 

 is one of the large-growing kinds. The fronds will grow to a 

 length of a yard, or even more in old plants, including the 

 crimson stipes. The fronds while young are of a beautiful rosy 

 colour. 



There are several other kinds to be found in collections of 

 stove Ferns, but those above mentioned are the best and most 

 distinct. 



DICTYOGLOSSUM. 



Divided from AcrosticJium by Mr. Smith. The distin- 

 guishing characteristic of the genus consists in the spore-masses 

 being densely scattered over the under surface of the fertile 

 fronds, excepting on the margin, which is clear of them. The 

 name is derived from diMyon, a net, and glossa, a tongue, 

 alluding to the veins crossing and recrossing each other, and 

 the tongue-like shape of the fertile fronds, There is only one 

 species namely, 



DICTYOGLOSSUM CKINITUM (Hairy), Fig. 18. A curious 

 hairy Fern from that rich island of Ferns, Jamaica. The 

 fertile fronds are very distinct from the barren ones ; besides 

 being spore-bearing, they have a stem, or stipes, 6 or 8 inches 

 high, which, as well as the upper side of the frond, is 

 covered with narrow black hairs. The frond itself is oval, 

 tapering to the point, whereas the barren frond is more 

 broadly lanceolate. Both grow about a foot long, and 8 inches 

 broad at the widest part, but the sterile is usually larger- 

 The fronds are placed upon a stout creeping rhizome, by 

 which it may be increased, though but slowly, by division. 

 Though a broad-leaved Fern, it grows within a small compass 

 and, therefore, is suitable for a moderate-sized stove, Known 



