78 



STOVE FERNS. 



strong a tendency to produce fertile fronds as some of the 

 others, and this may be looked upon as an advantage, as they 

 soon turn brown and become unsightly. 



L. ONOCLEOIDES (Onoclea-like), Fig. 39. An interesting 

 Fern, found in most of the West Indian Islands. Barren 

 fronds oval, lance-shape, pinnate; the leaflets or pinnse thick 

 and leathery, wavy at the edges, and 

 roundly cut at the margin towards the 

 top. Fertile fronds pinnate, also the 

 pinnae are narrow and contracted. Stalk 

 of the fronds scaly. The rootstock is 

 creeping : hence it may be increased by 

 division. The whole plant seldom exceeds 

 a foot in height : therefore it is a desirable 

 species for a small collection. 



LONCHITIS. 



From the Greek lonche, a lance, re- 

 ferring to the shape of the frond. Closely 

 allied to Litobrochia. 



LONCHITIS PUBESCENS (Hairy), Fig. 40. 

 Native of Mauritius. Arborescent. 

 Fronds light green, about 4 feet long, 

 hairy, bipinnate. Pinnae lanceolate ; pin- 

 nules oblong, pointed opposite, mem- 

 branous, pinnatifid, segments rounded. 

 Spore-masses seated in the sinuses of pin- 

 nules. It is rather rare. It is only now 

 Fig. 40. Lonchitis pubes- ,,,,,, , -, . -, 



cens. (Part of pinna and then that a young plant can be parted 

 medium size.) , .. 



on the old ones. 

 LOPHOSOEIA. See AlsopUla pruinata. 



LYGODICTYOK 



This genus, containing only one plant, differs only from 



