PTERIS. 291 



numerous stalkless, narrow leaflets, which are 4in. to Gin. long, about fin. 

 broad, slightly toothed towards the point, of a leathery texture, and naked on 

 both surfaces. The spore masses do not extend to the point of the leaflets. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 213 



P. pungens — pun'-gens- (prickly), Willdenow. 



A strong-growing, stove Fern, closely resembling P. quadriaurita, from 

 which species it is distinguished only by the prickly character of its stalks. 

 It is a native of the West Indies. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 182. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 244. 



P. quadriaurita — quad-ri-au-ri'-ta (four-eared), Retz. 



This species, which thrives in the cool and the warm house alike, 

 possesses a very wide range of habitat, and is accordingly very variable in 

 habit and in dimensions. It is found all round the world within the Tropics, 

 and a little beyond them. Its fronds vary from Gin. to 2ft. or 3ft. in length 

 and from 4in. to 12in. in breadth ; they are borne on naked or slightly rough, 

 straw-coloured stalks usually Ift. to 2ft. long, and consist of a terminal 

 leaflet cut down nearly to the rachis into numerous close, parallel, narrow- 

 oblong lobes, and of several pairs of lateral leaflets Gin. to 12in. or more in 

 length, the lowest usually compound, with one or two similar but smaller 

 leafits branching from them at the base on the lower side. The texture of 

 the fronds is somewhat leathery, and they are naked on both surfaces. The 

 sori (spore masses) are often continuous along the whole margin of the 

 segments. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 179, t. 134b. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, iii., p. 244. Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, t. 30. 



Among the many variations which have been observed in this species the 

 most striking are the following : 



P. q. argcyraea — ar-gyr-£e'-a (silvery), Moore. 



A very handsome and deservedly popular Fern, introduced from Central 

 India. Its fronds, including the stalks, often attain 4Jft. or oft. in length 

 and 2jft. in breadth. The leaflets, which end in a tail-like point, and their 

 leafits, which are usually blunt, are regularly adorned in their centre with 

 a broad band of purest white, which forms a most pleasing contrast 



u 2 



