POLYPODIUM. 185 



a creeping rhizome and nearly stalkless. The leaflets, l^in. to 4in. long, and 

 attached at their base to the rachis, which is clothed with brown hairs, are of 

 a dark green colour, and are rendered very attractive by the sori (spore 

 masses), which are of a bright yellow colour and disposed in one row nearer 

 the edge than the midrib. — Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 191. 

 Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, ii., t. 1. 



P. parasiticum — par-as-i'-tic-um '(parasitic), Mettenius. 



A small-growing, stove species, which, according to Beddome, is found 

 growing plentifully on trees in the Anamallay Mountains up to 5000ft. elevation, 

 also on the Neilgherries, Neddiwattan, and on rocks and trees down the 

 Sisparah Ghat. Its almost stalkless, entire fronds, seldom more than Sin. long, 

 are of a leathery texture, and have both surfaces, when young, thickly clothed 

 with long, soft hairs. The spore masses are disposed in two rows and 

 eventually become confluent. — Hooker, Sjjecies Filicum, iv., p. 167. Beddome, 

 Ferns of Southern India, t. 165. 



P. Parishii — Par-ish'-i-i (Parish's), Beddome. 



A small, stove species, native of Moulmein ; it is of little decorative 

 value. — Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 125. 



P. parvulum — par'-vul-um (little), Bory. 



This small-growing, stove species, native of Bourbon, Mauritius, Zambesi 

 Land, and Northern India, where it is said to occur up to 8500ft. elevation, 

 is distinct through the stout, short-creeping, scaly rhizome from which its 

 pinnate fronds, 4in. to 6in. long and ^in. broad, are produced. These fronds 

 gradually taper into a very short stalk, and are cut down to the rachis into 

 entire, narrow leaflets of a somewhat leathery texture, naked on both sides, 

 and each bearing two to four spore masses. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., 

 p. 184, t. 274b. 



P. (Goniophlebium) patens— Go-ni-oph-leb'-i-um ; pat'-ens (spreading), 

 J. Smith. 

 This stove species, of medium dimensions and of little decorative value, 

 is a native of Panama. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 23. 



