HYMENOPHYLL UM, 



325 



H. p. Blumeanum— Blu-me-a'-num (Blume's), Sjjrengd. 



This totally distinct form, native of Ceylon and the Malayan Islands, 

 is very elegant in habit ; its fronds are much narrower and more elongated 

 than those of the typical plant ; they are borne on long, naked stalks, and 

 their pinna) (leaflets), irregular m shape and size, and remote, are sometimes 

 simply pinnatifid (only once divided nearly to the midrib). — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 60. Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, t. 266. 



H. protrusum — pro-tru'-sum (protruded). Synonymous with H. polyanthos. 



H. pulcherrimum— pul-cher'-rim-um (most beautiful), Colenso. 



As its name impHes, this comparatively rare species, native of New Zealand, 

 where it is found on trunks of trees, is very handsome (see Plate). Its 

 lovely fronds, 6in. to 12in. long and 4in. to 6in. broad, are produced from 

 a thick and closely-set crown, and are borne on erect stalks oin. to 4in. long, 

 of a wiry nature, and winged down to the base. They are broadly triangular, 

 tri- or quadripimiatifid (three or four times divided nearly to the midrib), 

 and of a very graceful habit; they are not exactly pendulous, but being 

 borne on robust stalks they are partly erect, and then the weight of their 

 leafy portion causes them to arch over in a most agreeable manner. The 

 main rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) is slightly winged throughout, and 

 the lower leaflets, which have their midrib flexuose (bending) and are slightly 

 waved, with several distinct pinnules (leaflts) on both sides, are subdivided 

 into segments which are again pinnatifid in their lower divisions. The sori 

 (spore masses) are numerous, axillary and terminal on the segments on both 

 sides, and provided with a round involucre (covering) that is divided nearly 

 to the base, the valves being entire.— IF. Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 103, 

 t. 37a. /, Hooker, Flora of Neio Zealand, 232, t. 74. Loice, New and 

 Rare Ferns, t. 71. 



H. pumilum— pu'-mil-um (little), Ch, Moore. 



A remarkably dwarf species, native of Mount Tomah, New South Wales, 

 with little, entire (undivided) fronds, seldom more than lin. high, including 

 the short stalks on which they are borne. The sori (spore masses), one only 

 to a frond, are terminal ; they are provided mth a deeply-cleft involucre 

 (covering) having egg-shaped, entire v^x^yqq.— Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 464. 



