NEPHRODIUM. 



471 



firm texture and green on both surfaces, and their medium- sized sori (spore 

 masses) are disposed one at the base of each upper terminal lobe, and covered 

 by a smooth involucre of a somewhat persistent nature. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 502. 



N. (Lastrea) amplum — Las'-tre-a ; am'-plum (large), Baker. 



This very robust-growing, stove species, whose habitat extends from the 

 West Indies southward to Ecuador, is of much larger dimensions than the 

 preceding one. Its massive fronds, 3ft. to 4ft. long and 2ft. or more broad, 

 are borne on stalks 2ft. to oft. long, densely clothed at the base with an 

 entangled mass of bright, silky scales. The lower leaflets are often Ift. long 

 and 6in. broad, while their pinnules (leafits), of a soft, papery texture, are 

 spear-shaped, closely set, and cut down nearly or quite to the rachis (stalk 

 of the leafy portion) into oblong, pinnatifid lobes. The numerous small sori 

 (spore masses) are disposed close to the midrib, and covered by an involucre 

 of a very fugacious (not lasting) nature. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 285. 



N. (Lastrea) angUStifrons — Las'-tre-a ; an-gus'-tif-rons (narrow-fronded), 

 Baker. 



This is a peculiar and well-marked, greenhouse species, native of Nepaul, 

 with fronds 2ft. long, Gin. to Sin. broad, produced from a wide-creeping 

 rhizome (prostrate stem), and borne on dark stalks 1ft. to 2ft. long and 

 slightly scaly. The leaflets, of a somewhat leathery texture, 4in. to 6in. long, 

 and 2in. broad, are distant, spear-shaped, and flexuose (bending) ; their 

 pinnules (leafits), of the same shape, are cut down to the rachis below into 

 nearly quadrangular, toothed lobes, the veinlets of which are forked. The 

 sori (spore masses) are disposed in rows close to the midribs of the leafits. — 

 Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 283. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 226. 



N. (Lastrea) apiciflorum — Las'-tre-a ; ap-ic'-if-lo'-rum (flowering at the 

 extremity). Hooker. 

 In general aspect, as well as in habit, this greenhouse species, native 

 of Northern India, where it is found up to 9000ft. elevation, resembles 

 N. Filix-mas, but it is remarkable on account of the fructification being 

 restricted to the tips of the lobes, the sori (spore masses), six to eight to 



