158 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



ascending in the Himalayas to 7000ft. elevation, also of China, Ceylon, the 

 Polynesian Islands, Queensland, Madagascar, West Tropical Africa, &c. It is 

 a very distinct and uncommon Fern, easily grown, and well worthy of extensive 

 cultivation. The pale green fronds, of a soft, papery texture, 3ft. to 6ft. long, 

 Ift. to 2ft. broad, somewhat triangular, and three or four times pinnatifid 

 (cut nearly to the midrib), are borne on strong stalks 1ft. to IJft. long. 

 The lower leaflets, 6in. to 12in. long and 3in. to 4in. broad, are divided 

 into spear-shaped leafits, which are cut down to the rachis (stalk of the 

 leafy portion) below into oblong, deeply-toothed lobes. The small and 

 abundant sori (spore masses) are placed one or more together at the base 

 of the lobes. — Hooher, Species Filicum, i., p. 183. Lowe, Ferns British and 

 Exotic, viii., t. 29. 



D. (Odontoloma) triquetra— Od-on-tol-o'-ma ; tri-quet'-ra (triangular). 

 Baker. 



A very distinct, stove species, native of Java, New Caledonia, Fiji, and the 

 Samoan Islands. Its fronds, of a somewhat transparent, papery texture, and 

 borne on strong, upright stalks 4in. to 6in. long, are composed of six or seven 

 pairs of leaflets and a terminal one ; the lateral ones, 3in. to 4in. long and ^in. 

 broad, have their pinnules (leafits) cut down on the upper side into simple 

 or forked, very narrow segments, on the summit of which the sori (spore 

 masses) are disposed. — Hooker, SynojJsis Filicum, p. 93. 



D. (Humata) Tyermanni — Hum-a'-ta ; Ty-er-man'-ni (Tyermann's), 

 Baker. 



This very handsome, greenhouse species, native of the West Coast of Africa, 

 is popularly known as the "Bear's-foot Fern," on account of the narrow, silvery- 

 white scales with which its wide-creeping rhizomes (prostrate stems) are densely 

 clothed. Its fronds, of a bright green colour and somewhat leathery texture, 

 are somewhat scantily produced ; they are triangular in shape, 4in. to Gin. 

 long, four times pinnatifid (cut nearly to the midrib), and borne on naked 

 stalks 2in. to 3in. long and of a reddish colour. The sori (spore masses), 

 disposed at the base of the ultimate lobes, are covered by hemispherical 

 involucres that are free at the sides. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 467. 

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



