304 THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



broad, undulating surface of tlie arching fronds gives them a distinct and 

 very pleasing character. P. areolata is identical with this species. — Moore, 

 Gardeners' Chronicle, 1867, p. 348. Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 480. 



P. (Litobrochia) vespertilionis — Li-tob-roch'-i-a ; ves-per-ti-li-o'-nis 

 (bat-winged). Synonymous with P. incisa. 



P. (Litobrochia) vestita — Li-tob-roch'-i-a ; ves-ti'-ta (clothed), Baker. 



A stove species, of medium dimensions, native of Peru, with fronds 1ft. 

 to 2ft. long, borne on slender, upright stalks 1ft. or more in length, hairy 

 when young, but smooth and straw-coloured later on. The terminal leaflet, 

 Iffc. to IJffc. long and 2 Jin. broad, is cut down to a broadly- winged stalk into 

 numerous sickle-shaped lobes ; the lateral leaflets resemble the terminal one, 

 but are smaller and tail-like at the point ; all are of a soft texture and hairy 

 on both surfaces. The spore masses, which are confined to the inner two- 

 thirds of the leaflets, are covered with an involucre which consists principally 

 of a dense fringe of strong hairs. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 169. 



P. Yictoriee — Vic-to'-ri-ae (Victoria's). A variety of P. ensiformis. 



P. (Litobrochia) Yieillardi — Li-tob-roch'-i-a ; Vieil-lard'-i (Yieillard's), 



Mettenius. 

 This stove species, native of New Caledonia, is very distinct, being the 

 least-divided of the sub-genus. Its fronds, which are borne on erect, wiry, 

 chestnut-brown stalks 6in. to 12in. long, are composed of a terminal leaflet 

 6in. long and lin. broad, and' of two smaller lateral ones ; they are of 

 a leathery texture and naked on both sides. The spore masses extend to 

 the extremity of the fronds, — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 167. 



P. (Psesia) viscosa — Pses'-i-a ; vis-co'-sa (clammy), Moore. 



A stove species, native of Jamaica, Venezuela, and Peru, and provided 

 with a wide-creeping rhizome densely clothed with narrow, dark brown scales. 

 The fronds, produced on these rhizomes and borne on stalks 1ft. or more in 

 length, are large and much divided. Their upper leaflets, small and spear- 

 shaped, are pinnatifid (divided nearly to the midrib) ; the lower ones, 1ft. 

 to 2ft. long and 6in. to 9in. broad, are furnished on each side with numerous 

 spear-shaped leafits, which are cut down into deeply-lobed segments about • 



