306 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



H. Bridgesii— Bridg-e'-si-i (Bridges'), Eooler. 



A native of Chili and Chiloe, with fronds broadly triangular and 

 tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib), borne on wiry, naked or 

 woolly stalks 2in. to 6in. long. The fronds are 2in. to 6in. long and 

 2in. to Sin. broad at the base ; the leaflets, also broadly triangular, have 

 their pinnules (leafits) pinnate quite to the rachis. The very small sori 

 (spore masses), often six to eight to a leaflet, are disposed one or two at the 

 base of the pinnules, and provided with an oblong involucre (covering) divided 

 about two-thirds of the way down, entire or very slightly toothed. — Hool-er, 

 Species Filimm., i., p. 97, t. 35c. 



H. capillaceum — cap-il-la'-ce-um (hair-like), Roxburgh. 



This pretty little species, confined to St. Helena, where it has been long 

 known, much resembles in habit a slender form of H. tunhridgense. — Hooker., 

 Species Filicum, i., p. 109, t. 38b. 



H. Catherinse— Cath-er-i'-na3 (from St. Catherine's Peak), Hooker. 



A small, neat, deeply- cut plant, with inconspicuous hairs, native of 

 St. Catherine's Peak, Jamaica, where it grows at an elevation of 5000ft. — 

 Hooker, Synopsis Filiciim, p. 67. 



H. caudiculatum — cau-dic-ul-a'-tum (tailed), Martins. 



This large, erect-growing species is a native of Peru, Chih, and Brazil, 

 where it is found growing on mossy trees and among decaying vegetable 

 matter. It is undoubtedly one of the handsomest and most striking of our 

 cultivated Hymenophyllums. The very translucid, erect, smooth, and shining 

 fronds. Gin. to 15in. long, Sin. to Sin. broad, broadly spear-shaped, and 

 three times divided nearly to the midrib, are borne on upright stalks 

 4in. to 6in. long, of a wiry nature, and broadly winged almost to the base. 

 The leaflets are spear-shaped, and, as well as the extremities of the fronds, 

 are furnished with a long tail at the extremity (hence the specific name) ; 

 the lower ones, often 2in. long, are divided down to a broad, central rachis, 

 their lower pinnules (leafits) being again cleft nearly to the midrib, while the 

 upper ones are simple or only forked. The sori (spore masses), two to twelve 

 to a leaflet, are placed at the extremity of the segments on both sides ; they 



