POLYPODIUM. 



163 



often sharp-pointed at their extremity, narrowed and sometimes rounded at the 

 base. They are of a dark green colour on their upper surface, while their under- 

 side is rendered very attractive through the small, light brown or drab-coloured 

 scales with which it is covered. The fertile fronds, although of nearly 

 the same length as the barren ones, are contracted and partly covered 

 by the sori, which are large, promi- 

 nent, of a peculiar reddish-brown colour, 

 and disposed in close rows of four to 

 six between the midvein and the edge. 

 According to Lowe, this species was intro- 

 duced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 

 1830, though it had been known in Eng- 

 land since 1817. Fig. 47 is reduced from 

 Col. Beddome's "Ferns of Southern India," 

 by the kind permission of the author. 

 — Flooker, Sj^ecies Filicum, v., p. 49. 

 Nicholson^ Dictionary of Gardeiiing, iii., 

 p. 190. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 i., t. 22. Beddome, Ferns of Southern 

 India, t. 240. 



Fig. 47. Polypodium Lingua 

 (i nat. size). 



P. L. corymbiferum — cor-ymb-if'-er-um (corymb-bearing), Moore. 



A Chinese variety of the above species, which, although of the same 

 dimensions, is entirely dissimilar in other respects ; indeed, its foliage is of 

 such a grotesque contour, that there is hardly any character left resembling 

 that of the typical species. Whilst the fronds of the type are simple and 

 spear-shaped, those of this variety have their summit several times branched 

 or lobed, the point of each division being furnished with a large crest or tassel, 

 which gives the plant a very peculiar, and at the same time a very ornamental 

 and unique, appearance. When grown in a shallow pan of medium dimensions 

 it makes a very handsome specimen. Fertile fronds are seldom met with in 

 this variety, and although spores of it have been several times sown by us, 

 they have never produced anything but the typical species with plain fronds. 

 This -variety has also been lately imported from Japan, where it is said to be 

 plentiful.— 6^. Schneider, The Garden, 1884, p. 189. 



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