H YMENOPHYL L UM. 



323 



H. parYifolium — par-vif-oF-i-um (small-leaved), Baker. 



This Fern, native of Moulmein, is the smallest and simplest species of 

 the genus, its very minute fronds, narrow-oblong in shape, simple (undivided) 

 or cleft at their summit, sometimes half-way down, and furnished with only 

 a central vein, are seldom more than three lines long and one line broad. 

 The solitary, terminal sori (spore masses) have their wedge-shaped base sunk 

 in the frond, divided about half-way down, with rounded, entire valves. — 

 Hooker., Synopsis Filicum, p. 56. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 225. 



H. pastoense — j)as-to-en'-se (from Pasto), Hooker. 



A robust-looking species, native of the Volcano of Pasto, Andes of 

 Northern Ecuador. Its fronds are ovate-acuminate (egg-shaped and tapering 

 into a point), fully bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib), Gin. to 12in. 

 long, 4in. to Gin. broad, and borne on stout, upright stalks 4in. to Gin. long 

 and densely hairy. The rachis (stalk of the leafy portion), equally strong, 

 is densely clothed with rusty-brown hairs, which are also found on the 

 rachis and margin of the leaflets. The sori (spore 

 masses), twelve to twenty to a leaflet, are terminal 

 on and broader than the segments ; they are fur- 

 nished with a roundish involucre (covering) that is 

 deeply two-valved, and the valves are only ciliated. 

 — Efooker, Synoims Filicum, p. G7. 



(comb-like). 



H. pectinatum — pec-tin-a'-tum 

 CavaniUes. 



One of the most beautiful species of the whole 

 genus, native of Chili and Chiloe, of great interest 

 on account of the essentially distinct character of its 

 oblong, pinnate (once-di^dded) fronds, 3in. to Gin. 

 long, |in. to l^in. broad, and borne on naked 



stalks 2in. to 4in. long, of a particularly wiry nature. The main rachis 

 (stalk of the leafy portion) is only wmged towards the summit, and the 

 leaflets are deeply cleft on their upper side into long, narrow, parallel segments 

 that are simple (undivided) or of a slightly-forked nature (Fig. 83). The 

 sori (spore masses), often six to eight to a leaflet and terminal on the 



T 2 



Fig. 83. Frond of Hymenophyllum 

 pectinatum 



(A nat. size). 



