316 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



or tawny hairs, and borne on erect, round stalks lin. to 4in. long and of 

 a woolly nature. The main rachis (stalk of the leafy portion), equally 

 woolly, is slightly winged above, and the lower pinnules (leafits) are again 

 pinnatifid, with long, narrow, hairy segments. The sori (spore masses), two 

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

 sides, and are provided with an orbicular involucre (covering) that is sunk 

 in the frond and divided about half-way down, with valves strongly cihated. 

 —Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 90, t. 31d. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 ii., p. 166. Loive, Ferns British and Exotic, viii., t. 7a. 



In the cultivation of this species, watering overhead must be carefully 

 avoided, 



H. interruptum— in-ter-rup'-tum (interrupted), Kunze. 



This beautiful and interesting species, native of G-uadeloupe and the 

 mainland of South America, from Mexico and New Grranada southward to 

 Peru, where it is found growing on trees, has a peculiar appearance, produced 

 by the habit of its elegantly-drooping or pendulous fronds, which are densely 

 clothed mth soft, tawny hairs. These fronds are borne on short, wiry, 

 slightly hairy stalks, and vary from 6in. to nearly 3ft. in length and from 

 2in. to oin. in breadth ; in general outline they are long- spear- shaped and 

 twice divided nearly to the midrib. The sori (spore masses), six to twelve 

 to a leaflet, are terminal on the segments of both sides of the uj^per leaflets, 

 and are provided with an involucre (covering) that is divided more than 

 half-way down and has rounded and very hairy valves. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, i., p. 92, t. 33b. 



/ 



H. Jamesoni — Jame-so'-ni (Jameson's), Hooker. 



A very distinct species, of medium dimensions, native of the Andes of 

 Columbia, and readily distinguished by its long, narrow fronds, which are 

 3in. to 9in. long, fin. broad, of a flaccid nature, with the rachis (stalk of 

 the leafy portion) only slightly winged towards the extremity and fringed 

 throughout with spines of a soft yet tough texture. The leaflets, forked 

 at their summit, show only one or two linear (long and narrow) segments 

 on each side, and the sori (spore masses), disposed singly in the axils of 

 the segments, have their egg-shaped valves conspicuously thorny. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, i., p. 96, t. 35a. 



