CHEILANTHES. 



51 



Filicum, ii., p. 84, t. 98. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 308. 

 Eaton, Ferns of North America, ii., t. 57. 



This species is extremely variable in the form and composition of the 

 frond, abundance or scantiness of the pubescence (down), and continuity of 

 the involucres ; consequently, several varieties are recorded, of which the 

 following are the most distinct : 



C. m. micromera — mi-crom'-er-a (having small j)arts), Link. 



A well-known and pretty Fern, native of Venezuela, Brazil, and the 

 West , Indian Islands, with numerous spreading, closely- set leaflets and 

 pinnules (leatits), .egg-shaped or oblong, entire or nearly so, bearing continuous 

 and confluent sori (spore masses) covered with a small indusium. — Lowe, 

 Ferns British and Exotic, iv., t. 16. 



C. m. Moritziana — Mor-itz-i-a'-na (Moritz's), Kunze. 



In this variety, which is of larger dimensions throughout than the type, 

 the pinnules, often Jin. long, are cut down nearly to the rachis (stalk of 

 the leafy portion) for the lower two-thirds into oblong segments. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, ii., p. 85, t. 99b. 



C. (Eucheilanthes) multifida— Eu-cheil-anth'-es ; mul-tif'-id-a (much- 

 cut), Swartz. 



A very interesting, greenhouse species, of medium size, native of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, whence it extends northward to Zambesi Land and 

 St. Helena ; according to Dr. Blume it is also found on the mountains of 

 Java. Its comparatively massive fronds, Sin. to 12in. long and 2in. to 8in. 

 broad, borne on strong, tufted, erect stalks Sin. to 9in. long, of a dark chestnut- 

 brown colour, and shghtly scaly towards the base, are deltoid (in shape of 

 the Grreek delta, A), and tri- or quadripinnatifid (three or four times divided 

 half-way to the midrib). The lower leaflets, 2in. to 4in. long, are opposite, 

 and divided again into numerous segments of a somewhat leathery texture, 

 narrow-oblong in shape, deeply lobed, and having, when fertile, their margin 

 much recurved. The small and roundish sori (spore masses) are terminal on 

 the lobes, shghtly confluent, and covered by an involucre of membranous or 

 parchment-like nature. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 90, t. 100. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 308. Lowe, Fer?is British and Exotic, iv., t. 26. 



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