238 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



midrib). The leaflets are distinctly stalked, spear-shaped, 4in. to 6in. long, 

 2in. to oin. broad, and cut down into irregular, almost triangular pinnules 

 (leafits) with blunt lobes ; their under-surface is densely matted with wool of 

 a bright rusty colour, in which the elongated, simple (undivided) or forked, 

 sori (spore masses) are hidden. — Hooker^ Sj^ecies Filicum, v., p. 130. 



G. (Leptogramme) aurita — Lep-tog-ram'-me ; au-ri'-ta (eared), Hooker. 



This greenhouse species, which has altogether the habit and texture of 

 a Polypodium, is a native of North India, Khasya, Mumbree, Muncklow, 

 and Lachen, where, according to Bedclome, it is found at an altitude of 

 6000ft. Its fronds, IJft. to 2ft. long and Sin. to 12in. broad, are produced 

 from a creeping rhizome (stem) and borne on naked, glossy stalks about 

 Ift. long and of a chestnut-brown colour ; they are bipinnatifid or bipinnate, 

 the leaflets, disposed in distant pairs, being cut down sometimes nearly, some- 

 times quite, to the midrib into spear-shaped lobes, the lowest on one or on 

 both sides longer than the rest and pinnatifid (cleft nearly to the midrib). 

 The oblong sori (spore masses) are disposed on the forks of the veins. — Hooker, 

 Species Filiciim, v., p. 141. Bedclome, Ferns of British India, t. 152. 



G. (Syngramme) borneensis — Syn-gram'-me ; bor-ne-en'-sis (Bornean), 

 Hooker. 



A singular, stove species, of small dimensions, native of Borneo. Its 

 sub -sessile (almost stalkless) fronds are produced from a creeping rhizome 

 (stem) of a woody nature and densely clothed with nearly black scales ; they 

 are from 4in. to 6in. long, about ^in. broad, strap-shaped, and narrowed to 

 both ends, the edge being very slightly toothed ; the fertile ones are narrower 

 than the barren ones, and both are of a leathery texture The co^^ious 

 and conspicuous sori (spore masses) do not reach quite to the edge. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 154, t. 301. 



G. (Ceropteris) calomelanos — Ce-rop'-ter-is ; cal-om-eF-an-os (beautiful 

 black, in allusion to the colour of the stalks), Kaulfuss. 

 This very handsome, robust-growing, and extremely variable, stove species 

 is a native of the West Indies, extending southward to Rio Janeiro, Peru, 

 and Samoa ; also of the Tropical West African Islands. It is one of the 



