GLEICHENIA. 



221 



as in the shape of its leaflets, which are sometimes IJft. long and 6in. broad, 

 but frequently only oin. long and 2in. broad. In some cases they are more 

 or less tomentose (woolly) beneath, but they are generally smooth, bright 

 green above, and very glaucous underneath. Occasionally also the lowest pair 

 of the lobes of which they are composed are much elongated, reflected, and . 

 pinnatifid (cleft nearly to the 

 midrib), and the species is dis- 

 tinguished at first sight by the 

 pairs of accessory leaflets which 

 are invariably present at the 

 base of the forks (Fig. 50, 

 reduced from Col. Beddome's 

 " Ferns of Southern India," by 

 the kind permission of the 

 author). G. dichotoma is a 

 solitary species in its section 

 not only on account of the 

 peculiar formation of its fronds, 

 but also because it is perhajDS 

 the only species provided mth 

 wiry, creeping rhizomes of the 

 smooth, shining nature of those 

 of the plants with beaded 

 leaflets. The sori (spore masses), 

 according to Lowe, consist of 

 from ten to twelve capsules, 

 punctiform (in the form of 

 a small pointed projection) and 

 naked, G. Rermanni, and G. 

 rujinervis are synonymous with 

 this species. — Rooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 12. Nicholso?i, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, ii., p. 72. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, \iii., t. 51. Beddome, 

 Ferns of Southern India, t. 74. 



Fii. 50. Frond of Gleiclienia dichotoma 



Q nat. size). 



G. excelsa — ex-cel'-sa (tall). Synonymous with G. longissima. 



