POLYPODIUM. 



219 



P. (Phymatodes) stigmaticum — Phy-mat-o'-des ; stig-mat'-ic-um 

 (dotted), Presl. 

 A stove species, of small dimensions and of botanical interest only, native 

 of Colombia. Its nearly stalkless, entire fronds (Fig. 62), 4in. to 5in. long 

 and about lin. broad, are produced from a wide-creeping, slender, scaly 

 rhizome ; they are rounded at the extremity, gradually 

 narrowed towards the base, of a somewhat leathery 

 texture, and naked on both sides. The spore masses 

 are disposed on the connected veinlets. This species is 

 closely related to the better-known P. lycopodioides, 

 but is of thinner texture. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., 

 p. 36. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 194. 



P. (Niphobolus) stigmosum — Niph-ob'-ol-us ; 

 stig-mo'-sum (dotted), Swartz. 

 This stove species, native of Malaysia, New Guinea, 

 and ■ Northern India, where it is said to occur up to 

 2000ft. elevation, may be readily distinguished from all 

 other species belonging to the group by the much 

 larger size of its fronds, which are l^ft. to 2ft. long, 

 2in. to Sin. broad, and borne on firm, erect stalks lin. 

 to 6in. long ; they are sharp-pointed at the summit, gradually narrowed at the 

 lower part, of a somewhat leathery texture, smooth on the upper surface, and 

 woolly underneath. The very small, quite continuous sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed in several rows, sometimes covering the whole frond, except the very 

 hQ.^Q.— Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 50. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 '" , p. 194. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 120. 



Fig. 62. Frond of Polypodium 

 stigmaticum 



(J nat. size). 



in. 



P. (Goniophlebium) subauriculatum — Go-ni-oph-leb'-i-um ; sub- 

 aur-ic-ul-a'-tum (slightly eared), Blume. 

 This stove species, native of Malaysia and the Philippine Islands, is 

 probably one of the best-known and most extensively cultivated of the whole 

 genus. It is a very useful and decorative plant, and as a basket Fern for 

 the warm house it has hardly any equal (see Plate), its graceful fronds, which 

 are produced from a wide-creeping rhizome clothed with small, dull-coloured 



