150 THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



Sin. long, ^in. or more in breadth, are cut down three-quarters of the way to 

 the rachis into close, blunt, entire or slightly-toothed lobes, the lowest pair 

 of which are deflexed. The fronds are of a light green colour, soft and 

 papery in texture, and slightly hairy on their under-side, and their abundant 

 round spore masses are placed nearer the edge than the midveins. This Fern 

 prefers a soft, spongy soil, and a situation naturally cool. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, iv., p. 245 ; British Ferns, t. 3. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 iii., p. 190. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, i., t. 49. Eaton, Ferns of 

 North America, ii., t. 65. Correvon, Les Fougeres rustiques, p. 150. 



P. (Pheg-opteris) Hildebrandi — Phe-gop'-ter-is ; Hil-deb-ran'-di 



(Hildebrand's), Hooker. 

 A gigantic, stove species, native of the Sandwich Islands, with fronds 3ft. 

 to 4ft. or more in length, 2ft. to 3ft. broad, and borne on stout stalks 2ft. or 

 more in length, clothed with long, narrow scales. The lowest leaflets, Ift. to 

 IJft. long, have their pinnules (leafits) largest on the lower side, sometimes 

 again divided into deeply-cleft segments, the whole being of a soft, papery 

 texture and dark green colour. The under-surface is sprinkled over with 

 transparent glands, and the large and abundant spore masses are disposed 

 near the margins of the segments. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 254. 



P. (Goniopteris) Hillii — Go-ni-op'-ter-is ; Hil'-li-i (Hill's), Baker. 



This greenhouse species, native of Queensland, is of distinct appearance 

 through its simply-pinnate (once-divided) fronds being almost in the shape of 

 the Greek delta. A, and measuring Ift. each way. The opposite, stalkless, 

 strap-shaped leaflets are 5in. to 6in. long, 2in. broad, deeply notched, and 

 narrowly wedge-shaped at the base ; they are of a thick but not stiff texture, 

 dull green in colour, and densely covered with short, soft hairs. Their spore 

 masses are situated close to the main veins. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 505. 



P. (Phymatodes) himalayense — Phy-mat-o'-des ; hi-ma-lay-en'-se 

 (Himalayan), Hooker. 

 A greenhouse species, also known in gardens under the name of 

 P. venustum ; it is a native of Northern India, Nepaul, Khasya, Bhotan, and 

 Sikkim, where, according to Beddome, it occurs up to 7500ft. elevation. It is 

 provided with a wide-creeping rhizome of a woody nature, covered with rough 



