PTERIS. 



295 



into numerous closely-set, entire lobes, their lower two-thirds being provided 

 with six or eight pairs of opposite leaflets, the largest of which are Sin. to 

 Gin. long, with a long, narrow, entire point, and a broad, entire wing on the 

 upper side of the midrib, but with several leafits lin. to 2in. long on their 

 lower side (Fig. 84). Their texture is scarcely leathery, the barren segments 

 or leafits are finely toothed, and they are smooth on both surfaces. The spore 

 masses, disposed in a continuous line from the base 

 of' the leafits, fall short of their extremity. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, ii., p. 169 ; Garden Ferns, t. 59. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 245. 

 Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iv,, t. 9. Beddome, 

 Ferns of Southern India, t. 34. 



P. serrulata — ser-rul-a'-ta (saw-edged), Linnceus. 



Probably this is the commonest and best-known 

 of all the species in the genus ; but it is also the 

 most useful for house and Fernery decoration, its 

 elegant habit, easy cultivation, and lasting qualities 

 rendering it especially adapted for that purpose. It 

 is essentially a greenhouse Fern, requiring neither 

 care nor trouble in its management, and is a native 

 of China, where it is very common ; it has also been 

 received from Japan, and Eaton states (" Ferns of 

 North America," vol. ii., p. 240) that in North 

 America, where it is called the " Chinese Brake," it 

 is found on shaded banks of rivulets in forests near 

 Mobile, Alabama, and on walls in the city of Charleston, 

 in South Carolina. According to Lowe, this useful 

 species was introduced into England in 1770. 



Its slender fronds, 9in. to 18in. long and 6in. to 9in. broad, are borne on 

 naked, pale brownish stalks 6in. to 9in. long and of a wiry nature. Their 

 main rachis (midrib of the leafy portion) is margined with a wing which 

 grows gradually narrower downwards and forms the terminal leaflet at the 

 summit of the frond. The lateral leaflets are disposed in six or more pairs, 

 usually, but not regularly, opposite ; the upper ones are simple and 4in. to 



Fig. 84. Lowest Pinna of Pteris 



semipinnata 



(nat. size). 



