172 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



lowest segments, with, sharply-toothed lobes, are about lin. long and ^in. broad. 

 The sori (spore masses), two to twelve to a segment, are placed at the bottom 

 of the notches of the lobes, and are covered by a cup -shaped, nearly round 

 involucre. — Hooker^ Species Filicum, i., p. 77, t. 26g. 



D. (Patania) appendiculata — Pat-an'-i-a ; ap-pen-dic-ul-a'-ta (having 

 appendages), Wallich. 

 A stove species, in general habit resembling Asplenium Filix-fcemina, and 

 a native of ^^epaul and Kumaon. Its fronds, 1ft. to IJft. long, spear-shaped, 

 and bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib), are produced from a creeping- 

 rhizome (prostrate stem). Their lower leaflets. Sin. to 4in. long and narrow- 

 spear-shaped, are cut down quite to the rachis (stalk) except at their extremity ; 

 they are of a soft, papery texture, and their pinnules (leafits), Jin. long, are 

 again cut to within a short distance of the rachis into numerous narrow lobes. 

 The sori (spore masses), two to sixteen to a pinnule, are placed at the base 

 of the notches, and are covered by a round, cup-shaped involucre. — Hooker, 

 Species Fillcum, i., p. 79, t. 27a. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 82. 



D. (Eudicksonia) arborescens — Eu-dick-so'-ni-a ; ar-bor-es'-cens (tree- 

 like), VHeritier. 



This handsome, greenhouse, arborescent species, native of the island of 

 St. Helena, where it is found near the summit of Diana's Peak, and still 

 rare in cultivation, is of very peculiar appearance on account of its trunk, 

 which seldom exceeds lOft. in height, being generally found with several 

 branches, each terminated by a crown densely clothed with amber- coloured, 

 silky hairs. Its fronds, which are bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib) 

 and of a very leathery texture, have their lower leaflets 1ft. to IJft. long, 

 with blunt pinnules (leafits) and oblong segments. Their stalks are woolly 

 throughout, and their fertile pinnules often conspicuously contracted. The 

 sori (spore masses), two to six to a segment, are large, globose, and covered 

 by a distinctly two-valved involucre. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 66, 

 t. 22a. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 467. 



D. assamica — as-sam'-ic-a (from Assam). A common garden name for 

 2>. Barometz. 



