368 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



the upper one rounded and entire (undivided), and the point broadly rounded ; 

 they are placed in a long row close together but not overlapping, and are of 

 a soft, papery, and somewhat transparent nature. The sori (spore masses) 

 are disposed in a continuous marginal line. — Hooker^ Species Filicwm, i., 

 p. 205, t. 63b. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 298. 



L. Seemanni — See-man'-ni (Seemann's), /. Smith. 



This plant, native of the Bay of Choco, Panama, where it was discovered 

 by Dr. Seemann, is perhaps only an American form of L. cultrata. Its 

 simply-pinnate (once-divided) fronds, 6in. to 12in. long and about lin. broad, 

 are produced from a short-creeping rhizome (stem) and borne on stalks oin. 

 to 6in. long, of a wiry nature. The leaflets are of the same shape as those of 

 L, cultrata., but the teeth, especially the lower ones, are deeper and the texture 

 is thinner. The sori (spore masses) form an interrupted line along the upper 

 margin of the leaflets. — Hooker., Synopsis Filicum., ]3. 105. 



L. stricta^ — stric'-ta (upright), Dryander. 



An exceedingly pretty, erect-growing species, also known as L. elegans ; 

 its habitat extends from Mexico and the West Indies southward to Rio 

 Janeiro, The leaflets and stalks are of such a rigid nature that in drying 

 them they can only be made to adhere to the paper with the greatest difficult}^ 

 Under cultivation it assumes many forms, all of which are very handsome. It is 

 mostly seen with bipinnatitid fronds (twice divided nearly to the midrib), and 

 is occasionally found with tripinnatihd fronds, but sometimes they remain 

 simply pinnate (only once divided to the midrib) ; they are from Ift. to 2ft. 

 long, and borne on rigid, upright, polished stalks of similar length and of 

 a chestnut-brown colour. There is a peculiar and pleasing appearance about 

 this plant on account of the leaflets, which are recurved, of a bright, shining 

 green colour and leathery texture, being develojDed on one side of the midrib 

 only. The sori (spore masses) are disposed in a continuous line round the 

 upper edge. — Hooker., Species Filicum., i., p. 216. Nicholson., Dictionary of 

 Gardening., ii., p. 281. 



L. tenera — ten'-er-a (slender), Dryander. 



This is a form of L. flahellulata, ft'om which it differs by its thinner 

 texture only. — Hooker., Syno'psis Filicum., p. 107. 



