PTERIS. 



293 



including their stalks, are of a deep green colour and smooth on both sides. 

 — Lowe^ Ferns British and Exotic, iv., t. 5. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 244. 



P. reginae — re-gi'-na3 (Queen's). This and P. r. cristata are sub-varieties 

 of P. ensiformis. 



P. rugulosa — rug-ul-o'-sa (slightly wrinkled), Labillardiere. 



A stove species, native of New Caledonia, producing from a wide-creeping 

 rhizome its ample fronds, which are four times divided nearly to the midrib 

 and furnished with closely-set, short-stalked, spear-shaped leaflets less than 

 1ft. long. The leaflets are again divided into close and almost stalkless, 

 spear-shaped leafits, and these are in their turn cut into segments that are 

 wedge-shaped on the lower side at the base, the lowest being deeply cleft into 

 oblique, blunt lobes. The fronds are of a somewhat leathery texture, dull 

 green in colour, and finely wrinkled, especially below. The edge of the fertile 

 segments is revolute, and the spore masses reach to the midrib. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 480. 



P. sagittata — sag-it-ta'-ta (arrow-shaped). This 

 is synonymous with Pellcea sagittata. 



^^mm 



Fig. 82. Lower Portion of Frond of 

 Pteris sagittifolia 

 a nat. size). 



P. (Doryopteris) sagittifolia— Dor-y-op'-ter-is; 

 sag-it-tif-ol'-i-a (arrow-fronded), Raddi. 

 This very pretty and thoroughly distinct, dwarf- 

 growing, stove species is a native of Brazil, and, 

 according to Lowe, was introduced into the Royal 

 Gardens, Kew, in 1841. Its sagittate (arrow-shaped) 

 fronds, 4in. to 6in. long from the top of the stalk 

 to their extremity and 2in. to Sin. broad, are borne 



on naked, blackish stalks 4in. to Gin. long and of a polished nature ; they are 

 entire, but furnished with two basal lobes which are triangular and sharp- 

 pointed (Fig. 82 and Coloured Plate), as is the extremity of the frond itself. 

 These fronds, of a leathery texture, are mostly fertile, and the spore masses, 

 which form a continuous line all round the margin, are furnished with a 

 narrow indusium. — Hooker, Filices Exoticce, t. 39. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 244. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iii., t. 36. 



