52 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



and 5000ft.,' comes near the better-known P. hastata in size and habit ; but 

 the segments are narrower, and the invohicre is formed of the slightly- 

 incurved edge of the leafits. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 147, t. 118a. 



P. (AUosorus) brachyptera — All-os-o'-rus ; brach-yp'-ter-a (shortly- 

 winged), Baker. 

 Eaton states that this pretty, greenhouse species, of small dimensions, 

 grows in rocky places, in the Sierra of California, at 4000ft. elevation, and 

 that it was first collected in 1869. Its spear-shaped fronds, 4in. to Gin. 

 long and borne on stalks of the same length, are produced from a short- 

 creeping, knotted rootstock, 

 which is chaiFy with very 

 narrow, rusty-brown scales 

 toothed at their edges. 

 They are bipinnate (twice 

 divided to the midrib), and 

 furnished with very short, 

 stalkless pinnules (leafits) 

 often broader than long, 

 seven to nine to a leaflet, 

 closely placed (Fig. 18), of a 

 leathery texture, dull green 

 in colour, pointed at the tip, and rounded at the base ; their edge is so 

 conspicuously revolute (rolled in) as to make the leafits appear almost 

 cylindrical. The sori (spore masses), disposed near the end of the veinlets, 

 are covered by the revolute margins of the leasts. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 477. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 66. Eaton, 

 Ferns of North America, ii., t. 47. 



P. (Cheiloplecton) Breweri— Cheil-op-lec'-ton ; Brew'-er-i (Brewer's), 

 Eaton. 



This is a remarkably pretty, greenhouse Fern, native of North America. 

 Eaton states that it is common in the clefts of exposed rocks in the higher 

 canons of the Sierra of California, and thence eastward to the East Humboldt 

 Mountains and the Wahsatch ; it is also found near Loma, in Colorado, and 



Fig. 18. Pellsea. brachyptera 

 (^ nat. size). 



