284 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



(once divided to the midrib), with two to four distinct leaflets on each side ; 

 these leaflets are Sin. to 4in. long, IJin. broad, entire, sharjD-pointed, and of 

 a papery texture. The abundant and conspicuous sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed all along the veins on the under-surface of the fronds. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 192. Beddome, Ferns of British India^ t. 155. 



H. hedersefolia — hed-er-a3-foF-i-a (Ivy -leaved), /. Smith. 



The fronds of this stove species, native of Mexico, borne on naked, 

 ebeneous (blackish) stalks 1ft. long, are about oin. each way, and composed 

 of five entire lobes : the three central ones about equal, spear-shaped ; the 

 lateral ones spreading, shorter, and blunter. The texture is soft and 



papery, and both surfaces are densely 

 matted with short, silky, yellowish-grey 

 hairs. The sori (spore masses) are disj)osed 

 on the veins only. — Hooker, Synojjsis 

 Filicum, p. 398. 



H. lanceolata — lan-ce-ol-a'-ta (spear- 

 shaped). Hooker. 

 A singular, stove species, native of 

 the Fiji Islands, with egg-shaped or oblong- 

 spear-shaped fi^onds 6m. to 9in. long, IJin. 

 to 2^in. broad, pointed at their summit 

 and narrowed at the base, of a leathery 

 texture and naked on both sides. The 

 copious sori (spore masses) are confined to 

 the veins. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., 

 p. 191 ; Second Century of Ferns, t. 55. 



Fig. 75. Hemionitis palmata 

 (J nat. size). 



H. palmata — pal-ma'-ta (palmate, hand-shaped), Limiceus. 



This dwarf-growmg and thoroughly distinct, stove species, native of the 

 West Indies and Mexico, is generally known by the name of the " Ivy-leaved 

 Fern," an appellation quite appropriate, as its palmate fronds, 2in. to 6m. 

 each way, are composed of five nearly equal divisions (Fig. 75) ; but there 

 the comparison ends, for they are covered on both sides with rusty-coloured 



