160 THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



are 6in. to, 12in. long, narrowed at the base, and of a somewhat leathery 

 texture. The slightly -immersed spore masses are disposed in a row near the 

 midrib on each side. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 91 ; Filices ExotlcoB, 

 t. 25. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 190. Beddome, Ferns of 

 Southern India, t. 174. 



P. (Phymatodes) Lenormandi — Phy-mat-o'-des ; Len-or-man'-di 

 (Lenormand's), Baker. 

 A stove species, native of Mount Mu, New Caledonia, with oblong, 

 simply-pinnate fronds IJft. to 2ft. long, 1ft. broad, borne on grey stalks 6in. 

 to 9in. long and of a glossy nature. The strap-shaped, blunt, closely-set 

 leaflets are dilated at the base ; they are of a somewhat leathery texture, a'nd 

 naked on both surfaces. The spore masses are disposed in a distant row near 

 the edge of the leaflets, in which they are deeply immersed, and upon the 

 upper surface of which they form nipple-like protuberances. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 514. 



P. (Goniophlebium) lepidopteris — Go-ni-oph-leb'-i-um ; lep-id-op'-ter-is 

 (scaly- winged), Kunze. 

 This stove species, native of Mexico, Peru, and Brazil, is very variable. 

 The original or commonest form is provided with a stout, wide-creeping 

 rhizome of a woody nature, densely clothed with greyish scales. It has fronds 

 6in. to 18in. long, IJin. to Sin. broad, borne on rigid, erect, densely-scaly 

 stalks lin. to 4in. long, and cut down to the rachis into horizontal, entire 

 leaflets, the lower ones being reduced A^ery gradually. Their texture is very 

 thick, and they are covered on both sides, the lower very thickly, with 

 rusty -coloured or white hairs and scales. The sori (spore masses), situated 

 on the upper half of the frond, are round, very large, of a yellowish-red 

 colour, and protrude through the scales. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 212. 



P. 1. rufulum — m'-ful-um (reddish), Presl. 



In this variety, which is of Mexican origin, the scales of the rhizome are 

 of a bright reddish-brown colour, and the leaflets, Jin. broad and blunt, are 

 much twisted. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 346. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p, 190. 



