370 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



brown colour. The spear -shaped leaflets, 2in, to Sin. long, are cut down quite 

 to the midrib into cuneate pinnules (wedge-shaped leafits), which are again 

 broadly lobed on the upper edge ; they are of a thin, papery texture and of 

 a very pleasing bright green colour. 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. (Schizoloma) Yieillardii — Schiz-ol-o'-ma ; Vieil-lard'-I-i (Vieillard's), 

 Mettenius. 



A native of New Caledonia, with triangular fronds Sin. to 6in. long and 

 distinctly stalked. The leaflets are narrow-strap-shaped, ascending, lin. to 

 Sin. long and Jin. to fin. broad ; the barren ones are sharply cleft partly 

 to the midrib, while the fertile ones are entire (undivided) ; all are of a rigid, 

 leathery texture and of a dark green colour. The sori (spore masses) are 

 continuous. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 471. 



L. Yirescens — vir-es'-cens (greenish), Swartz. 



A greenhouse species, native of the Organ Mountains, Brazil. It has 

 somewhat triangular fronds, 6in. to 9in. long and 4in. to 6in. broad, produced 

 from a short-creeping rhizome, and borne on slender, dark, polished, flexuose 

 (zigzag-bending) stalks 6in. to 9in, long. These fronds are composed of a 

 simply -pinnate (once-divided) point and several pairs of spreading branches, 

 some of which are again a little branched below ; their pinnules (leafits), of 

 a papery texture, are nearly entire, or once or twice cleft from the upper 

 margin, placed close together, but not overlapping. The sori (spore masses) 

 are disposed in a continuous line, except when interrupted by the lobes. 

 L. Catherin(B is merely a variety of this species. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., 

 p. 21S, t. 65b. 



L. (Isoloma) Walkerae — Is-ol-o'-ma ; Walk'-er-se (Mrs. Walker's), Hooker. 



A most curious species, native of Ceylon and the Island of Banca, east 

 of Sumatra. Its simply-pinnate (once-divided) fronds, 6in. to 12in. long and 

 2in. to 4in. broad, are borne on erect, polished, wiry stalks 6in. to 12in. long, 

 of a glossy black or rather dark purple hue, and produced from a thick, 

 creeping rhizome (stem) covered with rusty-brown, hair-like scales. The 



