450 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



(stalk of the leafy portion) is naked or nearly so on both sides, and the 

 spore masses are disposed six to twenty together between the midrib and the 

 edge. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 392. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 ii., t. 25. 



M. giganteum — gig-ant-e'-um (gigantic), Mettenius. 



This is a very distinct species, native of Peru, with simple (undivided) 

 fronds IJft. to 2ft. long, 4in. broad, and borne on strong stalks Ift. long, 

 dark brown, and of a slightly downy nature. The leafy portion, which is of 

 a soft, papery texture, elongate -oblong in shape, and narrowed rather suddenly 

 at both ends, is slightly repand (bowed) on the margins, and has a tendency 

 to become uneven or sinuate. The abundant sori (spore masses) are disposed 

 thirty to forty together between the midrib and the edge. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, v., p. 163. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 352. 



M, Kapplerianum — Kap-pler-i-a'-num (Kappler's). Synonymous with 

 M. reticulatum sorhifolium. 



M. macrophyllum — mac-roph-yl'-lum (large-leaved). A form of 

 M. reticulatum. 



M. molle — moF-le (soft). A variety of M. reticulatum. 



M. palustre — pal-us'-tre (marsh-loving). Synonymous with M. serratum. 



M. pauciflorum — pau-cif-lo'-rum (few-flowered ?), Hooker. 



A species with pinnate (once-divided) fronds 1ft. to IJft. long, 6in. to 

 Sin. broad, borne on tufted, glossy, brownish stalks 6in. to 12in. long ; it is 

 a native of Sierra del Crystal, West Tropical Africa. The numerous leaflets, 

 of a somewhat leathery texture, 3in. to 4in. long and seldom ^in. broad, are 

 set Jin. to fin. apart ; they are very gradually narrowed from the middle to 

 both ends, and have their edge sharply toothed. The sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed in one or two rows between the midrib and the edge. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 164. 



M. reticulatum— re-tic-ul-a'-tum (netted), Sivartz. 



This species, of very large dimensions, has a wide range of habitat, 

 extending from Mexico and the West Indies to Brazil and Peru. Its ample 



