90 ASPLENIUM NIDUS. 



Asplenium nidus, Linnseus, with fronds from two to six feet 

 long; A. muscefoUmn, Mettenius, with fronds from four to six 

 feet long, and one foot broad; A. Australasicum, Hooker, 

 with fronds from two to six feet long. 



In A. nidus the frond is usually narrower. In A. muswfolium 

 the great size, and especially breadth of its simple or un- 

 divided frond, makes it, as Sir W. J. Hooker says, "unques- 

 tionably the most noble of all the genus Asple?iium." A. 

 Australasicum, which is distinguished by the very acute keel 

 to the costa, is the form figured in my "ISTatural History of 

 Ferns," vol. v, Plate XV. — A, u.nder the name of A. nidus, 

 and this Fern must therefore be called the A. nidus var. 

 Australasicum; the present species being the normal form of 

 A. nidus. 



An evergreen stove Fern. 



Native of the East Indies — Malay Islands, Mauritius, Elizabeth 

 Island, Oahu, Sandwich Islands, Society Islands, China, Chusan, 

 Benin Isles, Australia, Norfolk Island, and Madagascar. 



Fronds ample, spathulato-lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, 

 and tapering to the base; decurrent on a brief stipes. Costa 

 semiterete at the back. 



Sori extending from the costa to about half-way towards the 

 margin. 



For fronds my thanks are due to Mr. J. Smith, Curator of 

 the Royal Gardens, Kew. 



