ONYCHIUM. 



19 



freer in growth and producing its fronds in greater abundance than any other 

 (Fig. 6). These, however, are of a semi-deciduous character, 1ft. or more in 

 length, 6in. broad, egg-shaped, and quadripinnatifid (four times divided half- 

 way to the midrib). The lower leaflets of the barren ones are 4in. to Gin. 

 long, broadly-spear-shaped, and furnished with numerous, usually triangular, 

 pinnules (leafits) and segments. Contrary to those of 0. auratum, the segments 

 in this species, both fertile and 

 barren, are uniform, being all 

 narrow-Hnear, a little tapering 

 below, and gradually sharp - 

 pointed. The fronds are pro- 

 duced from a short - creeping 

 rhizome (prostrate stem), and 

 borne on slender, erect, naked, 

 straw-coloured or pale brown 

 stalks Gin. to 12in. long ; they 

 are of a somewhat leathery texture 

 and of a bright, shining green 

 colour on both sides— hence the 

 common garden name of lucidum. 

 This useful species is a native of 

 Japan, China, and Northern India 

 (ascending in Sikkim to 10,000ft. 

 elevation), and Hooker states that 

 the plant common in Japan 

 does not differ from the ordinary 

 Himalayan form. The sori (spore 



masses), of a bright brown colour, are covered with a pale involucre of 

 a parchment-like texture, and occupy nearly the whole under-surface of the 

 segments. According to the authors of the " Synopsis Filicum," " 0. capense, 

 Kunze, seems to be this, reported from South Africa by mistake." — Rooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 144 ; Species Filicum, ii., p. 122. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, ii., p. 499. 



Fig. 6, Onychium japonicum 



(i nat. size). 



0. lucidum — lu'-cid-um (shining). A garden name for 0. jajjonicum. 



c 2 



