182 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



1ft. to lift, in length and 6in. to 9in. in breadth, and are furnished with 

 long and sharp-pointed pinnules (leafits) that are usually cut down not more 

 than half-way to the rachis (stalk) ; they are of a somewhat leathery texture 

 and have blunt, rounded lobes ; their surface is naked on both sides, the 

 whole of the frond being of a beautiful dark green colour, shining when 

 perfectly mature, and not glaucous (bluish-green) beneath. The stalks, 

 wliich are strong, nearly erect, and almost as long again as the leafy portion, 

 are clothed all over with short, woolly-looking, dun-coloured hairs. The 

 sparingly -prod need sori (spore masses) are disposed two to eight to each fertile 

 pinnule, on Avhich they are disposed in rows with a broad space between 

 them.— ZT^^O/^-er, ^i^edes Filicum, i., p. 84, t. 29g. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 468. 



D. M. pruinata — pru-i-na'-ta (appearing as if hoar-frosted), Baher. 



This variety, usually found in gardens under the name of Cibotium 

 pruinatum, is distinguished from the typical plant by the under- surface of its 

 fronds being beautifully glaucous (bluish-green), and by the lobes of the 

 pimiules being distinctly denticulate (or toothed), instead of blunt and rounded. 



D. (Patania) moluccana— Pat-an'-i-a ; mol -uc-ca'-na (from the Moluccas), 

 Blume. 



A distinct, warm-greenhouse Fern, somewhat resembling D. ruhiginosa in 

 habit, and a native of the mountains of the Moluccas, as its specific name 

 indicates. Its fronds, tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib) and some- 

 what elongated-triangular in shape, are borne on stalks that are thickly 

 furnished with strong, hooked prickles. The lower leaflets, wliich are the 

 longest, measure 1ft. to lift, in length and 6in. to 9in. in breadth. The 

 narrow-spear-shaped pinnules (leafits) are cut down to the rachis (stalk) 

 throughout, their lower segments being cut down to the rachis in the lower 

 part only, and having blunt, oblong lobes, each of which bears from two to 

 twelve spore masses when fertile. — Hooker, Sjjecies Filicum, i., p. 78. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 468. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 viii., t. 46. 



D. pilosiuscula — pil-o-si-us'-cul-a (shghtly hairy). Synonymous with 

 D. punctiloba. 



