292 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



H. horrida — lior'-rid-a (horrid, thorny), Brown. 



This highly ornamental species, native of the West Indies and New 

 Granada, and generally known as Cyathea horrida., is one of the most gigantic 

 of the whole genus, and when given plenty of room makes a noble and 

 striking object in the warm Fernery. Its handsome fronds, of a bright 

 glossy green colour on their upper surface, slightly hairy and of a lighter hue 

 underneath, attain a length of from 7ft. to 10ft. ; they are only once divided 

 to the midrib, and are borne on strong stalks which, like the trunk, 

 are of a light brown colour, often woolly near the base, and thickly set with 

 long, stout thorns — hence its specific name. The sessile pinna3 (stalkless 

 leaflets), 1ft. to 2ft. long, are broadly oblong-spear-shaped, deeply cleft, with 

 lobes oblong-spear-shaped, usually entire, and pointed. The sori (spore 

 masses), situated on the free veinlets, form a continuous Hue just within the 

 margin. — Hooker., Sjjecies Filicum, i., p. 30, t. 15. NicJiolson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening., ii., p. 135. 



H, Karsteniana — Kar-sten-i-a'-na (Karsten's), Klotzsch. 



A very distinct species, native of Caracas, with ample fronds of a leathery 

 texture, borne on strong stalks rough and prickly at the base, where white 

 scales with a dark brown centre may be noticed. The fronds are simply 

 pinnate (only once divided to the midrib) and their sessile pinna? (stalkless 

 leaflets). Sin. to 12in. long and IJin. to 2Jin. broad, are entire or more or 

 less lobed at the very margin. The sori (spore masses) are disposed in two 

 oblique lines, meeting towards the midrib and forming a series of letters V 

 between each pair of midveins. — Hooher, Syno-psis Filicum., p. 27. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening., ii., p. 135. 



H. Lindeni — Lin'-den-i (Linden's), Hooher. 



This is a species of comparatively small dimensions, native of Caracas. 

 Its pinnate fronds are furnished with shortly- stalked leaflets of a thin texture, 

 6in. to 12in. long, lin. to IJin. broad, finely pointed, and with the margin 

 cleft, forming regular, short lobes having their point directed upwards. The 

 sori (spore masses) show a peculiar arrangement, as they are disposed in two 

 or three irregular lines or series at the margin of the leaflets. — Hooker., 

 Icones Plantarum., t. 706. 



