120 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



is one of tlie only two species known to have simple (undivided) fronds. These 

 fronds are sessile (stalkless) or very shortly stalked, Sin. to Sin. long, Jin. 

 to ^in, broad, slightly and irregularly notched at the margin, and occasionally 

 once forked. They are produced from a wide-creeping rhizome (prostrate 

 stem) of a scaly nature ; their texture is leathery, both their surfaces are 



naked, and the sori (spore masses) are dis- 

 posed in a row along the edges. Fig. 26 is 

 reduced from Col. Beddome's " Ferns of British 

 India " by the kind permission of the author. — 

 Hooker^ Species Filicum, i., p. 152. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 455. Beddome, 

 Ferns of British India, t. 237. 



D. (Leucostegia) assamica — Leu-cos- 

 teg'-i-a ; as-sam'-ic-a (Assam), Baker. 

 This distinct, stove species, also known 

 as Acrophorus assamicus, has spear-shaped, 

 tripinnatifid fronds. Gin. to 12in. long, borne 

 on naked stalks lin. to Sin. long, and 

 produced from a stout, wide-creeping rhizome 

 (prostrate stem), densely clothed with large scales of a light brown colour. 

 Their short-stalked leaflets and their crowded pinnules (leafits), of a somewhat 

 leathery texture, have both surfaces naked. The sori (spore masses), disposed 

 close to the margin of the ultimate lobes, are provided with involucres as 

 broad as deep. — Hooker, Syno^jsis Filicum, p. 4(>7. Beddome, Ferns of British 

 India, t.. 94. 



Fi^. 26. Davallia angustata 

 nat. size). 



D. (Stenoloma) bifida — Sten-ol-o'-ma ; bif^-id-a (bifid), Kaulfuss. 



A greenhouse species, of small dimensions, native of Minas Geraes and the 

 Organ Mountains, Brazil. It has fronds 4in. to Sin. long, 2in. to 4in. broad, 

 and quadripinnatifid (four times divided half-way to the midrib), borne on 

 naked, wiry stalks 4in. to Sin. long,, and produced from a short rhizome. 

 The small and roundish sori (spore masses) are terminal on the pinnules 

 (leafits), each of which is divided into two very narrow segments. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, i,, p. 18S. 



