362 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



toothed towards the apex, which is sharp -pointed in tlie fertile and obtuse or 

 bluntly-rounded in the barren fronds. The rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) 

 and the short stalks on which the fronds are borne are all more or 

 less covered with a short, woolly substance of a light brown colour. The sori 

 (spore masses) are disposed in a continuous line along both edges. — Hooher, 

 Sjjecies Filicum, i., p. 210, t. 69b. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 ii., p. 281. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 140. 



L. laxa — lax^-a (loose). A variety of L. trapeziformis. ' 



L. L'Herminieri — L'Her-min-i-e'-ri (L'Herminier's). A variety of 

 L. trapeziformis. 



L. linearis — li-ne-a'-ris (linear, long and narrow), Sicartz. 



This pretty, distinct, small, and rare greenhouse species, native of Tasmania, 

 New Zealand, and West Australia, has much the smallest pinna3 (leaflets) of 

 the unbranched group. Its fronds, which are produced from a creeping rhizome 

 (prostrate stem) of a ^Yivy nature, are simply pinnate (only once divided to 

 the midrib). Gin. to 12in. long, with small, rigid, stalkless leaflets, often 

 distinctly fan- shaped, the upper edge of which is very slightly toothed ; the 

 lower ones are arranged with a considerable space between them. The sori 

 (spore masses) are disposed in a continuous line along the upper edge of the 

 leaflets. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 206. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, ii., p. 281. Lowe, New and Rare Ferns, t. 16c. 



L. (Synaphlebium) lobata — Syn-aph-leb'-i-um ; lob-a'-ta (lobed), Poiret. 



A greenhouse species, also known as L. ohtusa and L. recurvata, native 

 of the ISTeilgherries and Ceylon, where it occurs at 5000ft. elevation, also of 

 Queensland and the Polynesian Islands. In size and general appearance it 

 much resembles L. davallioides, but the pinnules (leafits) are deeper and not 

 so much lobed ; it also differs from that species in its fructification, 

 the sori (spore masses), situated on the margin of the lobes, having 

 the inner valve of their involucre (covering) narrow and parchment -like, the 

 edge of the frond being produced beyond it and scarcely altered.^ — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 111. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 281. 



L. Lobbiana — Lob-bi-a'-na (Lobb's). Synonymous Avith L. cultrata. 



