POLYPODIUM. 



127 



P. (Phymatodes) dilatatum— Phy-mat-o'-des ; di-la-ta'-tum (enlarged), 

 AYaUich. 

 A strong-growing, greenhouse species, native of Khasya, where, according 

 to Beddome, it is found at elevations varying between 4000ft. and 6000ft. ; 

 also of Malaysia, Moulmein, Samoa, &c. Its fronds, produced from a thick 

 rhizome of a woody nature, and clothed with large, egg-shaped scales of a dull 

 brown colour, are borne on stalks 1ft. long, with a narrow, decurrent wing 

 reaching nearly down to the base. They are IJffc. to 3ft. long, Ift. or more 

 in breadth, cut down nearly to the rachis into sharp-pointed, entire lobes 

 4in. to Sin. long, of a soft, papery texture, and naked on both sides. The 

 small and abundant sori (spore masses) are scattered irregularly, and frequently 

 become confluent. — //oo^er,. Species Filicum, v., p. 85. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, iii., p. 188. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 122. 



P. Dipteris — Dip'-ter-is (Dipteris), Blume. 



A very handsome and distinct, stove species, of robust habit, native of 

 the ]\Ioluccas, Polynesia, the Fiji Islands, &c. Although, so far as we are 

 aware, this beautiful plant has not been success- 

 fully grown in this country, it has been imported 

 several times, and is well known in the form of 

 dry specimens, under the name of Dipteris Hors- 

 fieldii. Its singular fronds, produced from a slender 

 rhizome of a wiry nature and borne on strong, 

 wiry stalks 3ft. to oft. long, are 1ft. to 3ft. long 

 and much broader, the main lobes reaching three- 

 quarters of the way down and having their edges 

 sharply toothed (Fig. 38 is reduced from Col. 

 Beddome's " Ferns of British India," by the kind 

 permission of the author). They are of a some- 

 what leathery texture, dark green on their upper 

 surface, and of a peculiar glaucous or bluish colour 

 underneath. The very small, pale yellow sori 



(spore masses) are irregularly scattered, but are especially plentiful near the 

 midveins, where they frequently become conM&xA.— Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 v., p. 99. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 321. 



Fii. 38. Frond of Polypodium Dipteris 

 (much reduced). 



