THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



O. pallens — pal'-lens (pale), /. Smith. 



This handsome, stove Fern, native of Mauritius, is of medium dimensions 

 only. Its elegantly-cut fronds, borne on naked stalks 2ft. long and of a 

 peculiar pale straw-colour, are about 2ft. long, Ift. broad, and quadripinnatifid 

 (four times divided nearly to the midrib). The lower pinnules (leafits), Sin. 

 to 4in. long and 2in. broad, have their segments cut down to the rachis (stalk 

 of the leafy portion) below, with oblong, toothed lower lobes, the whole being 

 of a leathery texture. The sori (spore masses), disposed at the extremity of 

 the lobes of the segments, are covered by an involucre of the same shape, and 

 formed of the reflexed margin of the frond, with which it coincides in texture. 

 — Hooker^ Species Filicum, ii., p. 54, t. 77b. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, ii., p. 466. 



ODONTOLOMA— Od-on-tol-o -ma. See Davallia. 



