HYMENOPHYLL UM. 



315 



The sori (spore masses), two to four to a leaflet, are terminal or axillary on 

 tlie lateral segments, and are provided with an involucre (covering) that is 

 not divided more than half-way down and has rounded valves. — Hooker^ 

 ^i^ecies Filicum, i., p. 110. Hooker and Greville, Icones Filicum, t. 198. 



H. Gunnii — Gun'-ni-i (Gunn's), Van den Bosch. 



This dwarf species, native of Tasmania, produces from a long- creeping, 

 thread-like rhizome (prostrate stem) its oblong fronds, which are two or three 

 times divided nearly to the midrib, 2in. to oin. long, about lin. broad, smooth 

 on both surfaces, and borne on stalks lin. to IJin. long and winged at 

 the io]). The sori (spore masses), as broad as the lobes, are provided with 

 an involucre (covering) as broad as deep, and with rounded valves. — Hooler, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p, 463. 



H. hirsutum — hir-su'-tum (hairy), Sivartz. 



This extremely delicate-looking species is a native of Tropical America, 

 from Cuba to South Brazil and Patagonia, Avhere it forms on trunks of trees 

 a closely-matted covering of wiry, thread-like rhizomes (stems), producing in 

 great abundance narrow-oblong fronds 2in. to Gin. long and Jin. broad, on 

 slender stalks lin. to 2in. long, that are naked or slightly winged and hairy 

 above. The fronds are once pinnatifid (divided nearly to the midrib), of 

 a flaccid nature, often pendulous, of a pale colour, and hairy over the surface. 

 The sori (spore masses), one to four to a leaflet, are terminal on the segments, 

 and are furnished with a sub-orbicular involucre (nearly round covering), 

 the wedge-shaped base of which is sunk in the frond, and the valves of 

 which are very hairy. — Hookei% Species Filicum, i., p. 88. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, ii., p. 166. Lowe, New and Rare Ferns, Addenda, p. 182. 



This species succeeds best on a block of wood and in an upright 

 position ; it requires a very humid but airy situation, and great care must 

 be taken at all times that no water touches its fronds. 



H. hirtellum — hir-teF-lum (sHghtly hairy), Swartz. 



A very pretty, delicate species, native of Jamaica, Guadeloupe, and Mexico, 

 with pale green fronds oin. to 6in. long, Sin. to Sin. broad, tripinnatifid 

 (three times divided nearly to the midrib), clothed all over with soft, white 



