224 THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. * 



wide- creeping rhizome its entire, nearly stalkless fronds, seldom more than 

 4in. long. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 35. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 194. 



P. sylYaticum — syl-vat'-ic-um (sylvan). This is a form of Aspidium 

 aculeatum. 



P. (Phegopteris) tarapotense — Phe-gop'-ter-is ; ta-ra-pot-en'-se (from 

 Tarapota), Baker. 

 The handsome and much-divided fronds of this stove species, native of the 

 Andes of East Peru, are borne on stout, brown stalks 1ft. or more in length, 

 clothed with large, brown, spear-shaped scales ; they are 2ft. to 2jft. long, 

 Iffc. broad, oblong, and tripinnatifid (three times divided nearly to the midrib). 

 The short- stalked, spear-shaped leaflets are cut down to the rachis into notched, 

 bluntish leafits of a moderately firm texture, dark green on both sides, and 

 slightly hairy on their under-surface. The sori (spore masses) are disposed 

 in a single series midway between the midrib and the edge of the leafits. — 

 Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 505. 



P. (Dictyopteris) Tatei — Dic-ty-op'-ter-is ; Ta'-te-i (Tate's), Baker. 



A stove species, native of Chontales, Nicaragua, with fronds pinnate 

 (divided to the midrib) in the lower part only, their upper half showing only 

 short, blunt lobes. These fronds are borne on naked stalks 6in. or more in 

 length, and their leafy portion measures 2ft. to 3ft. in length and 1ft. to l^ft. in 

 breadth ; they are of a firm, parchment-like texture and dark green in colour, 

 and the scantily-produced spore masses are irregularly scattered, mostly near 

 or at the edge. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum., p. 506. 



P. taxifolium — tax-if-ol'-i-um (Yew-leaved), Linnaeus. 



This distinct, small-growing, stove species, native of Guatemala, Ecuador, 

 and South Brazil, produces from a stout, scaly rhizome fronds Gin. to 12in. 

 long, IJin. to 3in. broad, and cut down to the rachis into close, entire, blunt 

 leaflets seldom more than Jin. broad. These leaflets are of a somewhat 

 leathery texture, dark green in colour, and bear their spore masses close to 

 the midveins. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 200. 



