358 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



this species. — Hooker^ Sjjecies Filicmn, i., p. 220, Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 (jrardening, ii., p. 280, Beddonie, Ferns of Southern India, t. 25. 



L, (Diellia) erecta — Di-el'-li-a ; e-rec'-ta (upright), Hooker. 



A stove species, of httle decorative value, native of the Sandwich Islands. 

 — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 113. 



L. (Diellia) falcata — Di-el'-li-a ; fal-ca'-ta (sickle-shaped). Hooker. 



This handsome species, native of the Sandwich Islands, is distinguishable 

 at first sight by the brilliant green tint peculiar to its elegant fronds. These 

 are Ift. to IJft, long, 2in, to 4in. broad, spear-shaped, and simply pinnate 

 (only once divided to the midrib) ; they are borne on strong, erect stalks 

 oin. to 4in. long and of a densely scaly nature. The pinnas (leaflets), lin. to 

 2in, long and ^in. broad, are sickle-shaped and slightly undulated at the 

 margin, the upper half being rather broadest and auricled at the base ; the 

 lower ones are very short and blunt, and all are of a soft, papery texture. 

 The sori (spore masses) are marginal, — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum., j)- 113. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p, 280, 



L. falciformis — fal-cif-or'-mis (scythe-shaped). Hooker. 



A plant from British Guiana, and one which is probably but a young, 

 unbranched form of L. trapeziformis. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 104. 



L. filiformis — fi-lif-or'-mis (thread-like). Hooker. 



This species, native of British Gruiana and probably the smallest and 

 slenderest of the branched species, has fronds 4in. to 6in. long, formed of 

 a long, simple terminal leaflet and several pairs of short, spreading branches 

 below ; they are borne on slender, very flexuose (zigzag-bending), brownish- 

 black stalks 2in. to 4in. long, of a wiry nature. The texture is of a soft, 

 papery, and transparent nature, and the sori (spore masses) are disposed in 

 a continuous line along the upper edge of the pinnules (leafits). — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, i., p. 212, t. 63d. 



L. flabellulata — fla-bel-lul-a'-ta (fan-shaped), Dryander. 



A native of South- East China, the Malayan Peninsula and Islands, 

 Ceylon, North Australia, &c., with fronds produced from a short-creeping 



