174 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



masses), covered by rigid, round involucres, are disposed six to eight to the 

 lowest segments, which they entirely fill, except the broad midrib and the 

 extremity. In a young state, D. Berteroana is also of elegant and symmetrical 

 habit, although not showing its truly beautiful characters until about 2ft. 

 high. It is one of the most pleasing conservatory or greenhouse Ferns ; on 

 account of its firm and durable texture, its verdant appearance is preserved 

 for an indefinite period, and it generally still retains all its old and mature 

 fronds when the young growths make their appearance in the spring. — Hooker^ 

 Species Filicum, i., p. 67, t. 23a. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 467. 



D. Blumei — Blu'-me-i (Blume's). A synonym of D. chrysotricha. 



D. (Eudicksonia) Brackenridgei— Eu-dick-so'-m-a ; Brack-en-ridg'-e-i 

 (Brackenridge's) , Metfe?iius. 

 A stove species, native of the Fiji and Samoa Islands, very similar in 

 general appearance to D. Berteroana, with trunk reaching about 15ft. in height, 

 and thick, leathery, thrice-pinnate fronds, but distinct through its fertile and 

 barren pinnules (leafits) being nearly always found mixed together on the 

 same leaflets. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 462. 



D. (Cibotium) Chamissoi — Cib-o'-ti-um ,• Cham-is-so'-i (Chamisso's), 

 Hooker and Baker. 

 This stove species, native of Oahu and the Sandwich Islands, appears 

 to be closely related to the two species just described ; its fronds, tripinnate 

 (thrice divided to the midrib) and of a leathery texture, have their lower 

 leaflets 1ft. to IJft. long, 6in. to 9in. broad, and divided into narrow, sharp- 

 pointed pinnules (leafits), which are cut down to the rachis (stalk) below. 

 The oblong, bluntish segments each bear fi-om two to twelve spore masses, 

 which are covered by an involucre of two unequal valves, the outer one 

 larger and nearly orbicular, the inner one smaller and oblong. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, i., p. 83. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 467. 



D. (Eudicksonia) chrysotricha — Eu-dick-so'-ni-a ; chry-sot'-rich-a 

 (golden-haired), Moore. 

 A very handsome, greenhouse species, from Java, where it is foimd at 

 an elevation of 11,000ft. Its trunk, of moderate thickness, is clothed all over 



