204 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



colour, 

 young 



4m. to 



are of a 



6in. long, and scaly at the base. These fronds, which when 

 delicate red colour, are of a more slender and pendulous habit 

 than those of any other Doodia. They are 

 furnished with numerous narrow leaflets, which 

 in the barren ones are usually bluntish at 

 the point and finely toothed at the margins 

 (Fig. 44) ; the upper ones are dilated and 

 connected at the base, while those below the 

 middle are heart-shaped and even auricled 

 on the upper side. The fertile fronds, which 

 are usually longer, have their leaflets much 

 narrower, almost linear, except at their base, 

 where they are pimiatifid (cleft nearly to the 

 midrib) or auricled (eared) above and below. 

 The texture of both kinds of fronds is some- 

 what leathery, and the short, oblong sori (spore 

 masses) are disposed in one or two rows, 

 mth a considerable space between the inner 

 one and the midrib. The whole plant is of 

 a bushy habit, the fronds being jDroduced from 

 a close, compact crown. — Hooler^ Species 

 Filicum, iii., p. 74. Nicholson^ Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 486. Lowe, Ferns British 

 and Exotic, iv., t. 31b. 



There are several varieties known in com- 

 merce, the most distinct of which are the 

 followino- : 



D. m. Brackenridgei — Brack-en-ridg'-e-i 

 (Brackenridge's), Carruthers. 

 This form is a native of Yiti. It is 

 furnished with fronds of firm texture and 

 bluntish leaflets fewer and more distant than 

 in D. media ; the sori (spore masses) are dense and irregularly disposed 

 m two rows— Rooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 482. 



Fig. 44. Fertile and Barren Fronds of 

 Doodia media 

 (J nat. sine). 



