68 



which is scaly. Frond 1-3 feet long, 9-18 

 inches broad, triangular, 3-4 pinnate ; pinnules 

 J-j inch broad, wedge-shaped at the base, more 

 or less rounded at the outer edge, rather deeply 

 lobed, lobes finely serrate when sterile ; rachis 

 and surfaces naked. 

 Texture thin to 

 almost leathery. Sori 

 on the lobes rather 

 roundish or transver- 

 sely oblong. [Fig- 



25.] 



Distribution: 

 Mexico and West 

 Indian Islands, south- 

 wards to Juan Fer- 

 nandez and Peru. 



One solitary speci- 

 men was collected in 

 Sion Wood, Bombay 

 Island. It is evident- 

 ly an escape from cultivation. 



The following horticultural varieties occur 

 in the Bombay gardens : 



1. Var. bamci. Pinnules drooping, almost 

 leathery. 



2. Var. farlcyc nsc. Fronds drooping; pin- 



FlG. 25. Adiantutn tenerutn 

 Sw. Pinnules (nat. size). 



