426 THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



moist forests of Oregon. The stems are pendent, of a peculiarly flaccid nature, 

 Ift. or more in length, and much branched. The leaves, uniform on both 

 planes, are narrow-spear-shaped, deep green, grooved on the backs, and sharp- 

 pointed, but not bristle-tipped. The slender, square fruiting spikes resemble 

 the sterile branchlets. — Baker, Handhool- of the Fern-Allies, p. 35. 



S. patula — pat'-ul-a (spreading). Spring. 



A greenhouse species, of small dimensions, native of Jamaica and common 

 in cultivation. Its slender, trailing stems, of a pale colour and 6in. to Din. 

 long, are angled on the faces, with a long, whip-like tip and numerous 

 closely-arranged branchlets. It grows very close to the ground, and is at 

 once distinguished from the better-known S. serpens by its tail-like or whip- 

 like stem, and by its fewer but more divided branches. The fruiting spikes 

 are abundantly produced, square, and Jin. to Jin. long. — Baker, Handbook of 

 the Ferii-AUies, p. 46. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 411. 



S. perelegans — per-e'-leg-ans (very elegant). A variety of S. incequalifolia. 



S. Peryillei — Per-vil'-le-i (Perville's). Another name for S. Vogelil. 



S. pilifera — pil-if'-er-a (hair-bearing), A. Braun. 



A greenhouse species, belonging to the rosulatcti section, and rare in 

 cultivation. It is a native of the plateau of Central Mexico, where it is found 

 at 6000ft. to 8000ft. elevation. The stems are densely tufted, ?>u\. to 4in. 

 long, and copiously divided, the branching of all grades being midway between 

 pinnate and fan-shaped. This species appears to be intermediate between the 

 tAVO popular species, S. involvens and S. lejndophylla. — Baker, Handbook of the 

 Fern-Allies, p. 88. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 411. 



S. platyphylla— plat-yph-yl'-la (flat-leaved). A synonym of -S. grandis. 



S. plumosa — plu-mo'-sa (feathery). Baker. 



This stove species, of medium dimensions, has a wide range of habitat, 

 being found on the Eastern Himalayas and the mountains of the Indian 

 Peninsula and Ceylon, also in Burmah, Malaysia, South China, &c. Its 

 pale-coloured, traihng stems, 6in. to 12in. long, often forked low down, are 

 profusely branched, and their branches are copiously divided again, with 



