460 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



strongest-growing species of the whole genus. It forms httle tufts of hnear, 

 iiHform (thread-like) fronds, of a soft, papery texture and flaccid nature, 6in. 

 to 12in. long, about half a line broad, usually simple, but occasionally forked, 

 and presenting a very peculiar appearance, produced by the disposition of the 

 spore masses : these are deeply sunk in a furrow on one side, or according 

 to Brackenridge on both sides, of the midrib. — Hooker^ Species Filicum, v., 

 p. 123, t. 289b. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 210. 



M. linearis — li-ne-a'-ris (very narrow). Synonymous with M. graminea. 



M. rostrata — ros-tra'-ta (beaked), Hooker. 



A species of medium size, native of Nicaragua, with fronds Sin. to 4in. 

 long, one line broad, densely crowded in turf-like patches, tapering to the 

 point and gradually downwards into an indistinct stem. They are of a 

 leathery texture, with the surface naked, the midrib very distinct, and the 

 sori (spore masses) quite sunk in a longitudinal furrow lin. to 2in. long. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 122, t. 287b. 



M. (Pleurogramme) seminuda— Pleur-og-ram'-me ; se-min-u'-da (half- 

 naked), Baker. 



A distinct species, of comparatively large dimensions, native of the West 

 Indies, Guatemala, and South Brazil. Its fronds, of a leathery texture and 

 rigid nature, 4in. to Sin. long, |in. to Jin. broad, tapering downwards into 

 an indistinct stem, are densely crowded in turf-like patches. The sori (spore 

 masses), which are not sunk in a cavity, are disposed in two rows close to 

 the midrib : these ultimately become confluent, covering the whole of the 

 upper part of the frond, the edges of which are more or less inflexed. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 124. 



M. SUbfalcata — sub-fal-ca'-ta (somewhat sickle- shaped), Hooker. 



This is a very small-growing species, native of the New Hebrides, 

 producing from a slender, wide-creeping rhizome (prostrate stem) fronds of 

 a somewhat leathery texture, seldom more than lin. long and half-a-line 

 broad towards the point, with sori (spore masses) sunk in an unequal-sided, 

 longitudinal furrow. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 122, t. 219a. 



