152. 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



name of i>. hemiptera. Its fronds, which are produced from a comparatively 

 slender, wide- creeping or climbing rhizome of a very scaly nature, are almost 

 sessile (stalkless), or borne on very short stalks, being furnished with pinna3 

 (leaflets) nearly to their base. They are simply pinnate (only once divided to 

 the midrib), Sin. to 18in. long, and lin. to l^in. broad. The leaflets, about Jin. 

 long and half as broad as deep, have their lower line shghtly curved, 

 oblique at the base, while the upper one is rounded, nearly entire or notched 

 and lobed (Fig. 35). They are of a soft, papery texture, and hght green 

 in colour. The large, marginal sori (spore masses) are often confluent when 

 the fertile leaflets are not notched. The general appearance of the plant is 

 somewhat similar to that of certain Lindsayas, but it is much easier of 

 cultivation and of more vigorous growth. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 176. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 447. 



D. (Odontoloma) retusa — Od-on-tol-o'-ma ; ret-u'-sa (retuse), Moore. 



This very elegant, stove species, of large dimensions, native of Sumatra, is 

 a bold-growing Fern of the most distinct character. Its fronds, in the form 

 of an elongated triangle, 2ft. to 3ft. long and l|ft. broad at the base, are 

 produced on very close-growing underground rhizomes, and borne on smooth, 

 erect, crimson stalks about 1ft. long. They are tripinnate, their leaflets being 

 furnished with pinnules (leafits) of a peculiar form, which may be described 

 as rhomboidal. — Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 531. 



The light aspect of this species, together with its free growth, renders it 

 an excellent Fern for growing in hanging baskets, in which position the 

 pleasing contrast formed by the light, almost glaucous, colour of the leafy 

 portion of the fronds and the crimson colour of their stalks is shown to 

 perfection. The small and abundant sori (spore masses) are disposed on the 

 dilated extremities of the very margin of the pinnules. 



D. SCaberula — scab-er'-ul-a (slightly rough). Synonymous with D. hirta. 



D. SCabra — scab'-ra (rough). A synonym of D. marginalis. 



D. (Stenoloma) Schlechtendahlii — Sten-ol-o'-ma ; Schlech-ten-dahF-i-i 

 (Schlechtendahl's), Presl. 

 This singular, stove species, native of Mexico and Gruatemala, where it 

 ascends to 5000ft. elevation, belongs to the small class of Davallias of 



