130 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



divided fronds, of a thin, papery texture, are 9in. to 18in. long and 6in. to 9in. 

 broad, and the sori (spore masses) are disposed at the enlarged extremities of 

 their ultimate divisions. — Hooker, Second Century of Ferns, t. 64. 



D. (Eudavallia) fijiensis— Eu-dav-aF-li-a ; fi-ji-en'-sis (Fijian), Hoolcer. 



This charming Fern — the most finely-divided species of the series 

 to which it belongs — is, as its name implies, a native of the Fiji Islands, and 

 requu^es stove temperature. It is remarkable through its thick rhizomes 



(prostrate stems), which somewhat 

 resemble those of the common D. 

 canariensis, but are usually straight. 

 Its handsome fronds, although finely 

 cut (Fig. 29), are firm and durable 

 in texture ; they are borne on up- 

 right, strong stalks, Gin. to 9in. long, 

 measure fi-om Ift. to IJffc. in length 

 and 6in. to 12m. in breadth, have 

 a deltoid outhne (m shape of the 

 Grreek delta, A), and are of a bright 

 green colour ; they are gracefully 

 deflexed and compound-divided, the 

 whole frond being split up into 

 lanceolate, almost hnear piraiules 

 (leafits), and finally cut into narrow- 

 linear divisions. The half-cyhndrical 

 sori (spore masses) are terminal, being 

 disposed on the extremities of the 

 segments and sometimes provided 

 with a shght wing, but no horn. This species is remarkably gTaceful 

 in its whole contour, and, being of free growth and of evergreen habit, 

 it must rank amongst the most ornamental of the whole genus. — Hooher^ 

 Species Filicum, i., p. 166, t. 55d. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 1, p. 446. 



There are several more or less distinct varieties of D. fijiensis in 

 cultivation, the most striking being the following : 



