62 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



pinnules (leafits) that are again cut down to the rachis (stalk of the leafy 

 portion) into numerous small, oblong, bead -like segments of a somewhat 

 leathery texture. The upper surface of the fronds is of a pecuhar greyish- 

 green colour and pubescent, while the lower is densely matted, and the 

 margin of the segments is incurved. The sori (spore masses) are not copious 

 by any means, there being only a few of them to each segment, and they 

 are covered by a pale involucre of parchment-like texture. — Hooker, Species 

 FiUcum, ii., p. 97, t. 109b. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 309. 

 Eaton, Ferns of North America, i., t. 45. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 i., t. loB. 



C. (Eucheilanthes) Yarians — Eu-cheil-anth'-es ; var'-^-i-ans (variable). 

 Hooker. 



A greenhouse species, of little decorative value and dwarf habit, native 

 of the Himalayas, where it grows at 2000ft. to 3000ft. elevation. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 136. 



C. (Eucheilanthes) Yestita — Eu-cheil-anth'-es ; ves-ti'-ta (clothed), 

 Swartz. 



This pretty, greenhouse species, which Michaux first named and described 

 under the name of Nephrodium lanosnm, is a native of North America, where, 

 according to Eaton, it is popularly known as the " Clothed Lip Fern," and 

 is found growing wild in clefts and on ledges of rocks from the Island of 

 New York westward to Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas, and southward to the 

 Carolinas and Georgia. Its fronds, 4in. to Sin. long and IJin. to 2in. broad, 

 are produced from a creeping rootstock that is much matted and entangled, 

 sometimes forming large tufts, and are borne on wiry, polished stalks 2in. to 

 4in. long, of a chestnut-brown colour and slightly downy. Their pinnte 

 (leaflets), which are opposite and about fin. long, are cut down to the rachis 

 (stalk of the leafy portion) into several oblong pinnules (leafits) on each side, 

 which in their turn are again cut down nearly or quite to the stalk below. 

 The whole frond is of a sc^ifiewhat leathery texture, with the upper surface 

 nearly naked and the lower one only slightly hairy, not densely matted. The 

 abundant sori (spore masses) are roundish, and disposed on the margin of 

 the segments, at first distinctly separate, but eventually becoming confluent. 



