PLATYLOM1, PLEOPELTIS POLYBOTRYA. 101 



margin. Spore-masses long and narrow, continuing round each 

 fertile frond. Increased by dividing the creeping rhizome. 



P. FLEXUOSA (Twining), is a Fern from Peru, that loses its 

 fronds annually. It is a twiner, with wiry stems, growing 

 from 4 to 6 feet high, and is very ornamental. Increased by 

 division. It will succeed in a warm greenhouse. 



P. TEENIFOLIA (Three-leaflet). A drooping Mexican Fern, 

 of great beauty. Easily known by its habit. Suitable for 

 basket-culture. The peculiar colour of the foliage makes it 

 very distinct. Increased by division. 



PLEOPELTIS. 



This name is derived from pleos, full, and pelte, a shield, 

 and refers to the little umbrella- shaped scales which cover the 

 spore-masses. It is applied to a little group of trailing Ferns 

 allied to Polypodium. They all have small undivided fronds, 

 only an inch or two in length, and they all possess long trailing 

 rhizomes, on which the fronds are produced at short intervals. 

 They are well adapted for cultivation in suspended wire 

 baskets, and, grown in this way, they produce a very pretty 

 effect. They can, of course, be rapidly increased by division. 

 They all resemble each other so much in general appearance 

 and habit that special descriptions are unnecessary. The 

 species most generally met with are P. nitida (Shining) ; 

 P. lycopodioides (Lycopodium-like) ; P. venosa (Beautiful) the 

 pretty way in which the veining of this species is shown 

 renders it specially worthy of cultivation; P. vacciniifolium 

 (Vaccinium-like), small roundish fronds. 



PCECILOPTEEIS. See Cyrtogonium. 



POLYBOTEYA. 



POLYBOTEYA CYLiNDBicA (Eound), Fig. 52. This is a 

 climbing Fern from the moist woods of Jamaica, where it 



