162 THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. (Phymatodes) Lindbergii— Phy-mat-o'-des ; Lind-berg'-i-i (Lindberg's), 



Mettenius. 

 This stove species, native of Brazil, is provided with a very wide-creeping 

 rhizome, which keeps close to the surface of the ground and is clothed with 

 bright brown scales. Its fronds, quite stalkless and gradually narrowed to 

 both ends, are 6in. to Sin. long, lin. to l^in. broad, of a thin, papery texture, 

 bright green in colour, and finely hairy on both sides. The round and 

 conspicuous sori (spore masses) are disposed in a single row nearer the midrib 

 than the margin. — Hooker, Synojjsis FiUcum, p. 358. 



P. (Phymatodes) Lindleyanum — Phy-mat-o'-des ; Lind-ley-a'-num 

 (Lindley's). This is a form of P. jjalmatum. 



P. (Phymatodes) lineare — Phy-mat-o'-des ; li-ne-a'-re (linear), Thunherg. 

 This greenhouse species is very common in India, where it is said to be 

 found up to 10,000ft. elevation ; it is also a native of Japan, the Malayan 

 Islands, Natal, Angola, &c. . Its fronds, 6in. to 12in. long and ^in. to lin. 

 broad, are produced from a wide-creeping rhizome of a woody nature ; they 

 are entire (undivided), gradually narrowed to both ends, of a somewhat leathery 

 texture, and almost naked on both sides. The large and prominent sori 

 (spore masses) form a single row nearer the midrib than the edge ; they are 

 distinctly immersed, and when young are covered with copious scales. — 

 Hooker, Garden Ferns, t. 14. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 190. 

 Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, t. 180. 



P. I. simplex — sim'-plex (simple), Sivartz. 



In this variety the fronds are larger — sometimes IJft. long and 2in. 

 broad — their texture is thinner, and the veins are more distinct. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 354. 



P. (Niphobolus) Lingua — Niph-ob'-ol-us ; Lin'-gua (tongue-like), Swartz. 

 This greenhouse species, native of China, Japan, Ceylon, and Northern 

 India, where it occurs at 5000ft. elevation, is a very distinct plant, provided 

 with a wide-creeping rhizome, from which its simple (undivided) fronds are 

 produced in abundance. These fronds, borne on firm, erect, round stalks Sin. 

 to 6in. long, are of a leathery texture, 4in. to 8in. long, lin. to 4in. broad, 



