MENISCIUM. 



451 



fronds, 2ft. to 4ft, long and Ift. or more broad, are borne on stout, glossy 

 stalks 1ft. to 3ft. long and of a brownish colour. The leaflets, of a somewhat 

 leathery texture, 6in. to 12in. long and Ihi. to 4in. broad, have their edge 

 entire (undivided) or slightly undulated ; they are either wedge-shaped or 

 rounded at the base and terminate in a sharp point. The sori (spore masses) 

 are disposed from eight to twelve between the midrib and the edge. — 

 Hooker^ Species Filicum^ v., p. 165. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 ii., p. 352. 



Several varieties of this species are known in cultivation, the most 

 distinct being the following : 



M. r. macrophyllum— mac-roph-yl'-lum (large-leaved), Kimze. 



This is a Mexican form, the chief characteristic of which is that it is 

 furnished with a few large leaflets. 



M. r. molle — moF-le (soft), Mettenius. 



This variety, gathered in New Granada by M. Triana, has the rachis 

 (stalk of the leafy portion) and the imder-surface of its leaflets softly hairy ; 

 the leaflets are quite entire, about 1ft. long, lin. broad, truncate (as if 

 maimed) on the upper and rounded on the lower side at the base. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 392. 



M. r. SOrbifolium— sor-bif-ol'-i-um (Sorbus-leaved), Willdenow. 



This variety, which is identical with the M. Ka2:)plerianum of Fee, has 

 narrower leaflets than usual, the lower ones being slightly stalked. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 392. 



M. salicifolium— sal-ic-if-oF-i-um (Willow-leaved), Wallich. 



A species of medium size, native of Penang and Singapore, with fronds 

 1ft. to IJft. long, Ift. broad, and borne on glossy, pale brown stalks 1ft. 

 or more long. The leaflets, of a somewhat leathery texture and disposed 

 from fin. to l^in. apart, are very gradually narrowed from the middle to 

 both ends, and have their edge nearly entu-e. The sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed four or five between the midrib and the ^dige— Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, v., p. 164 ; Second Ce?itury of Ferns, t. 90. 



2 G 2 



