10 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



wHch its spear-shaped fronds, Sin. to 9in. long and 2in. to 3in. broad, are 

 borne. These fronds are furnished with numerous narrow -sickle- shaped pinnaj 

 (leaflets) of a leathery texture, about fiin. long and |in. broad, gradually 

 narrowed towards the point and enlarged at the base, the lowest ones groAving 

 gradually shorter and blunter. The sori (spore masses) are disposed in 

 a continuous line near the midrib.— ^oo^L'^r, Species Filimm, iii., p. 64, 

 t. 161. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 50. 



B. (Eublechnum) nitidum — Eu-blech'-num ; nit'-id-um (shining), 

 Presl. 



This stove species, of medium size, somewhat resembles B. hrasiliense in 

 general appearance, but is much smaller. Its fronds are simply pinnate (only 



once diAdded to the midrib), and 

 borne on scaly stalks Sin. to 4in. 

 long ; they are about lOin. long 

 and 4in. to 6in. broad, and are 

 furnished with immerous somewhat 

 sickle-shaped leaflets of a coriaceous 

 (leathery) texture, 2in. to 3in. long, 

 |in. broad, gTaclually narrowed to- 

 wards the point, but enlarged and 

 connected at the base (Fig. 3), and 

 with their edges finely toothed. 

 The sori (spore masses) are disposed 

 in a continuous line close to the 

 midrib. — Hooker, SjJecies Filicum, 

 iii., p. 44, t. 55. Nicholson, Dic- 

 tionary of Gardening, i., p. 195. 

 Beddome, Ferns of British India, 

 t. 49. 



B. n. COntractum — con-trac'-tum (contracted). Hooker. 



This variety differs from the typical plant through its leaflets being 

 conspicuously contracted and having their edge much undulated, — Hooker, 

 Synopds Filicum, p. 184. 



Fig. 3. Blechnum nitidum 

 (i nat. size). 



