138 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



comparatively large sori (spore masses) are disposed one to six to a segment. 

 — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 156. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 i., p. 446. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, viii., t. 15. Beddome, Ferns of 

 Southern India, t. 11. 



AlttLOugh a deciduous species, D. immersa is one which well deserves 

 a place in every collection, as it makes during the summer months a very 

 handsome specimen when grown in a basket. This seems, indeed, the best 

 way to grow it, as its rhizomes (prostrate stems), which are somewhat slender, 

 are usually developed beneath the surface of the soil. 



D. (Humata) Imrayana— Hum-a'-ta ; Im-ray-a'-na (Imray's), Hooker. 



A stove species, of small or medium dimensions, native of the West 

 Indian Islands, Guadeloupe, and Dominica.. Its fronds, 6in. to 12in. long 

 and 4in. to 6in. broad, are borne on brown or black stalks, 4in. to Sin. 

 long and upright ; they are egg-shaped in outline and simply pinnate (only 

 once divided to the midrib) ; their largest leaflets, about 3in. long and lin. 

 broad, of a thin, papery texture, are spear-shaped, provided with broad, 

 blunt teeth, somewhat unequal- sided, and obliquely truncate at the base below. 

 The sori (spore masses), which are covered by rounded involucres that are 

 broader than deep and attached by the base only, are placed in the teeth at 

 a short distance from the margin. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 171, t, 49a. 



D. khasyana — khas-y-a'-na (Khasyan). Synonymous with D. strigosa. 



D. (Stenoloma) Lenormandi — Sten-ol-o'-ma ; Len-or'-mand-i (Lenor- 

 mand's). Baker. 



A stove species, of small dimensions, native of New Caledonia. It is 

 provided with firm, wide-creeping rhizomes (prostrate stems), from which 

 triangular fronds 4in. to 5m. long and four times pinnatifid (cleft nearly to 

 the midrib) are produced : these fronds are borne on naked stalks 6in. to 

 12in. long, and have both surfaces of an even green colour. The minute, 

 terminal sori (spore masses) are free or narrowly edged on both sides. — 

 Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 471. 



D. Lindleyi — Lind'-ley-i (Lindley's). This is a synonym for the well- 

 known D. solida. 



