48 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



rhizome (prostrate stem), have a decidedly pendulous habit. They are from 

 4in. to 12in. long, 2in, to 4in. broad, spear-shaped, tri- or quadripinnatifid 

 (three or four times divided half-way to the midrib), and borne on strong, 

 polished stalks 4in. to 12in. long, of a chestnut-brown colour and liberally 

 clothed with rusty-brown hairs. The numerous leaflets are opposite, 2in. to 

 Sin. long, spear-shaped, and divided into many hnear-oblong pmnules (leafits) 

 cut down to the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into numerous distinct, 

 convex, small segments of a shining dark green colour on their upper side, 

 while the whole of their under -surface is clothed with narrow, long, brown 

 hairs. The sori (spore masses), almost continuous round the edge of the 

 segments, are covered with membranous (parchment-hke) involucres of a pecuhar 

 whitish colour. — Hooker., Species Filicum, ii., p. 95, t. 104. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 308. Loive, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 iv., t. 24. 



C. (Eucheilanthes) leucopoda — Eu-cheil-anth'-es ; leu-cop'-od-a (white- 

 footed). Link. 



A greenhouse species, native of Mexico and Texas, greatly resembling 

 C. viscosa, from which it only differs by the pale straw-colour of its stalks 

 and by the herbaceous (soft) character preserved by the lobules, even when 

 these are recurved and form involucres (spore coverings). — Eaton, Ferns of 

 North America, ii., t. 49. Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 136. 



C. Lidgatii — Lid-gat'-i-i (Lidgate's), Baker. 



A very curious, strong-growing, greenhouse species, native of Oahu, very 

 distinct from all other known species through its habit, which is similar to 

 that of Woodwardia radicans. Its fronds, deltoid (in shape of the Greek 

 delta, A), and generally from IJft. to 2ft. long, are produced from a creeping 

 rhizome, and borne on straw-coloured, naked stalks about 1ft. long. Their 

 lowest leaflets are the largest, and show three deeply-cut pinnules (leafits) ; 

 all the others are simply spear-shaped, IJin. to 2in. broad, cut down to 

 a narrow wing into close, ligulate (strap-shaped), blunt lobes, the barren ones 

 slightly toothed. Both surfaces are naked, and the texture is rigidly leathery. 

 The sori (spore masses) are covered by rigid, persistent involucres, and are 

 disposed on the margin of the lobes. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 475. 



