186 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. Pearcei — Pear'-ce-i (Pearce's), Bahcr. 



A stove species, native of the Andes of Peru, where it is said to 

 occur at 6000ft. to 7000ft. elevation. Its almost stalkless, spear-shaped, 

 pendulous fronds, 9in. to 15in. long and lin. to IJin. broad, are cut down to 

 a narrow wing into spear-shaped, blunt lobes seldom more than fin. broad at 

 the middle, of a somewhat leathery texture, and dull green in colour, the 

 lower ones being gradually reduced. The sori (spore masses) are disposed 

 close to the edge of the lobes. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 508. 



P. pectinatum — pec-tin-a'-tum (comb-like), Linnceus. 



This Fern, one of the prettiest stove species in cultivation, is also known 

 as P. Wageneri. According to Lowe, it was introduced into this country in 

 1793, and is a native of the West Indies, Mexico, and Brazil, where it is 

 common. Eaton states, in his exhaustive work, " Ferns of North America," 



that it is also found in Southern Florida, 

 near Enterprise, and at Manatee, in 

 which locality Dr. Garber says that 

 "It is restricted to a small area of high 

 banks of a stream in a hummock drain- 

 ing a series of ponds. According to 

 the same authority, the soil is mostly 

 clay intermixed with a small percentage 

 of sand and vegetable matter." As illustrating the great variations to which 

 this elegant Fern is subject. Dr. Garber adds : " On the side of high 

 banks, and near the water's edge, apparently in pure clay and rocks, the 

 fronds are narrower, more rigid, and erect ; while upon the banks and at a little 

 distance from the water, they are Avider, flaccid, and generally reclining." The 

 usual dimensions of the fronds, which are produced from a stout, scaly, under- 

 ground rhizome, are Ift. to 2ft. in length and 2in. to 6in. in breadth ; they are 

 cut to the rachis into numerous closely-set, horizontal, entire leaflets, lin. to 

 Sin. long, of a soft, papery texture, and of a deep, dark green colour. The 

 rich yellowish-brown sori (spore masses) are disposed in long rows, midway 

 between the midrib and the edge (as shown on one side of Fig. 52). — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, iv., p. 203 ; Garden Ferns, t. 10. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 191. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, ii., t. 21. 



f/g. 52, Portion of Frond of Polypodium pectinatum 



(nat. size). 



