308 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



oblong, and sharp -pointed, are three times divided nearly to the midrib, and 

 borne on cihated stalks lin. to 2in. long, winged above and sometimes almost 

 to the base. Their main rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) is broadly winged 

 throughout and ciliated, and the leaflets and segments are hairy throughout, 

 especially along the margin of the fronds. The sori (spore masses), two to 

 twelve on a leaflet, are placed at the end of the lateral segments on both sides, 

 and provided with an immersed, sub-orbicular involucre (covering) having 

 valves divided about half-way down and conspicuously hairy. This species is 

 particularly fond of running its slender, thread-like rhizomes (prostrate stems) 

 into a piece of Tree Fern or of partially- decayed wood. It is also known 

 as H. Plumieri. — Hooker, Species Filiciim, i., p. 88. Hooker and Greville, 

 Icones Filicum, t. 35. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 166. Lowe, 

 New and Rare Ferns, t. 69c. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 305. 



H. crispatum— cris-pa'-tum (curled), Wallich. 



Although sometimes recognised as simply a variety of H. ciliatum, and 

 sometimes as a form of H. javanicum, this plant, which clothes the trunks of 

 Tree Ferns in Tasmania and New Zealand, and is also a native of Nepaul, 

 Ceylon, and Luzon, is very distinct. Its fronds, which are borne on erect 

 stalks margined with a distinctly-crisped wing, are from 4in. to 7in. long, 

 deep green, smooth, broad, erect or curving, somewhat dense, and three times 

 divided nearly to the midrib into narrow, blunt segments. The abundant 

 egg-shaped spore masses are occasionally disposed on the lateral segments, 

 and are provided with an involucre (covering) having two valves divided 

 to the base. — Hooher and Greville, Icones Filicum, t. 77. Lowe, New and 

 Rare Ferns, t. 69b. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 305. 



H. crispum — cris'-pum (curled), Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth. 



A species closely alhed in habit to H. axillare, but distinguished by its 

 crisped fronds, which are borne on very slender, wingless stalks. It is 

 a native of Tropical America, its habitat extending from Mexico and Cuba 

 southward to Peru and Brazil. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 107. 



H. cruentum — cru-en'-tum (blood-coloured), Cavanilles. 



This distinct and most interesting species, native of Chili, especially the 

 province of Valdivia, where it is found growing on trunks of trees, is quite 



