BA VALLIA. 



125 



a stout, creeping rhizome (prostrate stem), but less finely divided than those of 

 that popular species. The sori (spore masses), which fall short of the margin, 

 are covered with half- cup -shaped involucres. — Hooker^ Species Filicum, i., 

 p. 167, t. 44b. 



D. (Microlepia) Denhami — Mi-crol-ep'-i-a ; Den-ham'-i (Denham's), 

 Hooker. 



An elegant, stove species, native of Fiji and Aneiteum, producing from a 

 creeping rhizome fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, borne on erect, slender stalks, 4ui. 

 to Sin. long. They are quadripinnatifid (four times divided half-way to the 

 midrib), and of a thin, papery texture, with both surfaces naked. The very 

 small and abundant sori (spore masses) are disposed not quite on the margin, 

 and covered with half-cup-shaped involucres. — Hooker, Second Century of 

 Ferns, t. 47. 



D. (EudaYallia) dissecta — Eu-dav-al'-li-a ; dis-sec'-ta (dissected), /. Smith. 



This very beautiful and easily-cultivated, stove species, frequently found in 

 gardens under the name of D. elegans dissecta, is a native of Java and the 

 Malayan Archipelago, and one of the most extensively-grown species of 

 Davallia for decorative purposes. Its fronds, produced in great abundance 

 from a stout, wide -creeping rhizome (prostrate stem), clothed throughout with 

 scales of a rusty colour, are Iffc. to l|ft. long and deltoid (in shape of 

 the Greek delta. A), being about as broad at the base as they are long, and 

 four times pinnatifid (divided half-way to the midrib). They are of a light 

 green tint, which contrasts agreeably with the colour of the rhizomes. The 

 sori (spore masses), situated one on each of the ultimate segments of the fertile 

 fronds, are small, oblong, and provided with one or two horns protruding 

 beyond them. — Hooker, Synoj^sis Filicum, p. 469. Nicholson, Dictio7iary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 445. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, viii., t. 20. 



D. (EudaYallia) divaricata — Eu-dav-al'-li-a ; di-va-ric-a'-ta (straggling), 

 Blume. 



This exceedingly handsome, strong- gTowmg, stove species, native of Khasya, 

 Northern India, the Malayan Peninsula, Java, &c., is generally found in 

 commerce under the name of D. polyantha. Its beautiful fronds, 2ft. to 3ft. 



