PELLMA. 49 



stalks 6in. to 12in. long and of a dark chestnut-bfown colour. They are 

 broadly oblong, quadripinnatifid (four times divided nearly to the midrib), and 

 furnished with broadly spear-shaped leaflets, the pinnules (leafits) of which 

 are often cut down to the midrib into numerous narrow segments with rolled 

 edges. The fronds are of a somewhat leathery texture and of a pale green 

 colour on both surfaces, the upper one being slightly hairy. The broad 

 involucre, of parchment-like texture, is rolled over the spore masses. — Hooker^ 

 Species Filicum, ii., p. 151, t. 119b. 



P. a. CUneata — cun-e-a'-ta (wedge-shaped), /. Smith. 



In this variety, which is of the same habit and possesses the same vigour 

 as the species, the ultimate segments are usually cut down to the midrib, 

 oblong, pointed, Jin. long, Jin. broad, and wedge-shaped at the base. — 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 66. 



P. (AUosorus) aspera — All-os-o'-rus ; as'-per-a (rough), Baker. 



This greenhouse species, native of Texas and New Mexico, growing near 

 the Rio Grande, near the Santa Pita Copper Mines, and along the San Pedro 

 River, is rare, even in its own habitats. Its narrowly spear-shaped fronds, 

 4in. to 6in. long and about lin. broad, are produced from a somewhat 

 ascending, rather short rootstock, and borne on clustered, rather slender stalks 

 of a wiry nature, 2in. to Sin. long, blackish, and more or less densely clothed 

 with narrow scales and hairs of a pale brown colour. They are bipinnate, 

 with their lower leaflets distant and the others more closely set, and all of 

 them are cut down to the midrib into a few narrow or oblong, nearly entire 

 leafits of a somewhat leathery texture, pale green on both surfaces, the upper 

 one rough with harsh, short, simple or forked, whitish hairs. The abundant 

 sori (spore masses) are disposed in a continuous line along the margin, and 

 are covered by a pale, minutely-toothed involucre. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 ii., p. Ill, t. 108a. Eaton, Ferns of North America, ii., t. 74. 



P. (AUosorus) atropurpurea — AU-os-o'-rus ; a'-tro-pur-pur'-e-a (dark 

 purple), Link. 

 This greenhouse or nearly hardy species, of medium size, which, 

 according to Lowe, was introduced into Europe in 1770, is stated by Eaton 



VOL. HI. ^ 



