364 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



2in. to 4in. broad, and bi- or tripinnatifid (twice or three times divided nearly 

 to the midrib), are produced from a creeping rhizome (prostrate stem) 

 densely covered with very narrow scales, and borne on slender, wiry, chestnut- 

 brown, polished stalks 4in. to Gin. long. The pinnules (leafits), of a soft, 



papery texture, are either entire or cut down 

 to the midrib into several obversely-triangular 

 lobes, which, when fertile, are often not more 

 than one line broad. The sori (spore masses) 

 are disposed in a continuous marginal line. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 218. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 281. 



L. oblongifolia — ob-lon-gif-or-i-a (oblong- 

 fronded). A synonym of L. pectinata. 



L. Obtusa— ob-tu'-sa (obtuse, blunt). This is 

 synonymous with L. lobata. 



L. OYata — o-va'-ta (egg-shaped), /. Smith. 



A species of small dimensions, native of 

 the Malayan Archipelago, with fronds 4in. to 

 Gin. long, fin. broad, simply pinnate (only once 

 divided to the midrib), produced from a short- 

 creeping rhizome (prostrate stem), and borne on 

 Fig^ 91. Frond of Linc/saya microphyiia ^^^^^k, flexuose (zigzag-bending) stalks 2m. to 

 (J nat. iiize). 3in. long and of a wiry nature. The leaflets 



are very blunt at the point ; their lower side is 

 obliquely truncate at the base, while their upper side is sHghtly auricled 

 (eared). The spore masses are disposed in a continuous, marginal line, — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 205, t. 61b. 



L. parYUla — par'-vul-a (small). Fee. 



In this species, native of Trinidad, the fronds. Gin. to 8in. long, borne 

 on stalks of similar dimensions, are bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib) 

 when fully developed, with a few distinct leaflets 2in. to 3in. long and Jin. 

 broad. The sori (spore masses) are continuous, the outer valve of their 



