294 THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. (P8esia) SCaberula — Pscs'-i-a ; scab-er'-ul-a (slightly rough), Richard. 



This exceedingly pretty, compact-growing, greenhouse species, native of 

 New Zealand, is of such totally distinct appearance that, to the casual observer, 

 it appears much more like a finely-cut Davallia than a Pteris. The plant is 

 provided with wide-creeping rhizomes of a wiry nature, from which its spear- 

 shaped and finely-divided fronds, borne on 

 somewhat rough stalks 6in. to 12in. long, are 

 produced. These fronds are tri- or quadri- 

 pinnatifid (three or four times divided nearly 

 to the midrib), Ift. to IJft. long, and Gin. to 

 9in. broad ; their lower leaflets are cut down 

 ^. „„ „ ^ „ . , to the rachis into numerous leafits on each 



Fig. 83. Pinna of Pteris scaberula 



a nat. size). sidc (Fig. 83), which are again cut down into 



oblong, toothed segments of a somewhat leathery 

 texture and of a pleasing pale green colour. The abundant spore masses 

 occupy, when mature, nearly the whole of the fertile segments, except the 

 midrib. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 174, t. 93a. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, iii., p. 244. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iv., t. 10. 



P. SCabra — scab'-ra (rough), Bory. 



A stove species, which, although very distinct, is of little decorative value. 

 Its fronds, 2ft. or more in length and 1ft. to IJft. broad, are borne on strong, 

 upright, dark chestnut-brown, glossy stalks 1ft. to 2ft. long ; they are 

 composed of a terminal leaflet and several pairs of lateral ones, of such 

 a leathery texture that the specimens can scarcely be fastened down on 

 paper. It is a native of Mauritius and Bourbon. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 ii., p. 187, t. 138a. 



P. semipinnata — se-mip-in-na'-ta (half-pinnate), Linnceus. 



This singular-looking, upright, greenhouse species, of medium dimensions, 

 is a native of Hong-Kong, Japan, the PhiHppine Islands, and Borneo, and is 

 also found on the Himalayas at an elevation of 4000ft. Its curious, broadly 

 spear-shaped fronds, 1ft. to lift, long and 6in. to 9in. broad, are of a peculiarly 

 upright habit and borne on strong, erect, bright chestnut-brown, shining stalks 

 1ft. or more in length. Their upper part is cut down nearly to the rachis 



