PTERIS. 



271 



borne on strong, upright, naked stalks 2ft. or more in length. The terminal 

 leaflet, Gin. to 9in. long, ends in a long point, and has numerous linear-oblong 

 lobes on each side ; the lateral leaflets, which are numerous, are similar to 

 the terminal one, but the lowest pair are much larger than the others, being 

 often more than 1ft. long and Gin. to 9in. broad, with numerous leatits on 

 each side. The fronds are of a leathery texture and naked on both sides, 

 and the spore masses reach nearly to their extremity. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 ii., p. 190. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 241. 



P. (Litobrochia) denticulata — Li-tob-roch'-i-a ; den-tic-ul-a'-ta (slightly 

 toothed), Sicartz. 

 This stove species, native of Tropical America, from the West Indies 

 southward to Brazil, much resembles P. cretica in general aspect. Its fronds, 

 1ft. to 2ft. long and Sin. to 12in. broad, are borne 

 on slender, naked stalks about 1ft. long and of a 

 wiry nature. Their leaflets, when barren, are finely 

 toothed along the edges (Fig. 73), and in the 

 lower part of the frond they are often deeply cleft 

 into narrow leafits, especially on the lower side. 

 The fronds are of a' somewhat leathery texture, 

 and naked on both sides, and the spore masses do 

 not reach quite to their extremity. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, ii., p. 215. Nicholson, Dictio7iary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 241. Lowe, Ferns British and 

 Exotic, iv., t. 1. 



P. d. brasiliensis — bras-il-i-en'-sis (Brazilian), 

 Raddi. 

 In this variety, the leaflets, which are broader 

 than in the type, being Gin. to 9in. long and 

 lin. broad, are also more divided. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, ii., p. 214. 



f 



Fig. 73. Barren Upper Pinna of 

 Pteris denticulata 



(nafc. size). 



P. (Litobrochia) elata — Li-tob-roch'-i-a ; e-la'-ta (tall), Agardh. 



A tall-growing, stove species, native of Tropical America, from Panama 

 southward to Ecuador, Its ample fronds, three times divided, are borne on 



