68 



STOVE FERNS. 



HEMITELIA SPECIOSA (Sliowy), Fig. 32. A South American 

 Fern of large dimensions. The veins of this species are pin- 

 nate, the lowest pair running up from the midrib to the edge 



of the leaf. The next pair are 

 placed above them, running 

 parallel, and also to the mar- 

 gin ; and at the end of each 

 vein may be seen the beauti- 

 ful cup with its tiny pyramid 

 of spore-cases. The fronds 

 are pinnate, 4 to 6 feet 

 high, and each pinna is 

 more than a foot long, and 

 nearly 2 inches broad. These 

 fronds are placed upon a 

 tree-like stem, which in their 

 native home is often 20 feet 

 high. 



The other species known 

 in Britain are H. grandifolia 

 (Trinidad) ; H. Sostmanii 

 (Guiana) ; and H. horrida. 

 This last is covered with 

 aculeate or prickly scales, 

 very formidable things to 

 encounter in passing through 

 the forests of Jamaica. The 

 whole genus must be in- 

 creased by spores, though 

 sometimes a young plant is 

 produced at the base of an 

 old leaf amongst the scales ; 



Fig. 32. Hemitelia speciosa. (Pinna ,,/hpn *!,.,* Ti nT vnPTi tip * 

 medium size ; a sorus magnified.) wnen tnat Happens, t 



little moss just under the 

 sprouting young plant, and as soon as roots are produced cut 



