434 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



L. SUbalatum — sub-al-a'-tum (nearly winged), Bojer. 



A very distinct species, native of Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. 

 Its long fronds are furnislied with leaflets 6in. to 9in. long, 4in. to 6in. broad, 

 somewhat triangular, bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib), and divided 

 into very closely-set, often overlapping segments, six of which are usually 

 found on each side below the terminal leaflet. This plant is midway between 

 L. jajjonicum and L. iwlystacliyum, and has the pinnatifid barren segments 

 of the latter. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 438. 



L. Yenustum — ven-us^-tum (pleasing), Sivartz. 



A native of the West Indies, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru, somewhat 

 resembling X. scandens, but of larger dimensions and of a constantly downy 

 nature. The fronds are of indefinite length, and the primary petiole (first 

 stalk) is so short that the leaflets appear as sessile (stalldess). The leaflets 

 are 6in. to 12in. long, 4in. to 6in. broad, and composed of a terminal leafit 

 and from four to twelve on each side, all of which are simple (undivided), 

 broadly strap -shaped, jointed at the base, and bluntly lobed at the edge when 

 barren. The fructification is formed of spikelets one to four lines long, 

 disposed in close rows, which give the fertile portion of the frond the 

 appearance of being pinnatifid. Both surfaces of the leaflets, as well as the 

 stalks, are -densely clothed with greyish hairs, which may be considered 

 a very uncommon and peculiar character. L. polymorphum of Humboldt, 

 Bonpland, and Kunth, is identical with L. venustum. — Eooler, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 438. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 309. 



This plant requires a good deal of space for its development, as it is 

 a robust and rapid grower, and one of the few Lygodiums averse to being 

 syringed overhead during the summer months. 



L. YOlubile — vol-u'-bil-e (twining), Swartz. 



In this somewhat close-growing species, native of Cuba and Brazil, the 

 primary petiole (first stalk) is nearly or quite obsolete ; the secondary ones, 

 about lin. long, bear leaflets 8in. to 12in. long, 6in. to lOin. broad, formed 

 of a simple terminal leafit, broadly oblong in shape, 3in. to 6in. long, and 

 lin. to l^in. broad, and three to five pairs of lateral ones, somewhat wedge- 

 shaped and jointed at the base, all distinctly though shortly stalked, and of 



