474 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



N. (Lastrea) ascensionis — Las'-tre-a ; as-cen-si-o'-nis (from the Island 

 of Ascension), Hooker. 

 A pretty, stove species, of small dimensions ; its fronds, somewhat 

 triangular in shape, and borne on short, stout stalks densely clothed with 

 narrow scales of a dark brown colour, seldom attain 1ft. in length and 6in. 

 ni breadth. The leaflets, of a somewhat leathery texture, are imbricated 

 (overlapping), the lower ones Sin. to 4in. long, 2in. broad, and divided into 

 narrow- spear- shaped pinnules (leafits) cut down to the rachis (stalk) into 

 nearly entire (undivided), oblong lobes, at the base of each of which there is 

 a sorus (spore m^^^).— Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 124, t. 257. 



N. (Eunephrodium) asplenioides— Eu-neph-ro'-di -um ; as-ple'-ni-6-i'- 

 des (Asplenium-like), Baker. 

 This stove species, of medium dimensions, native of the West Indies, 

 produces from a creeping rhizome (prostrate stem) fronds 1ft. to IJft. long, 

 4in. to 5in. broad, oblong in shape, simply pinnate (only once divided to 

 the midrib) in their lower half, and borne on hairy stalks Gin. to 9in. long 

 and of a greyish colour. The upper leaflets, closely set and entire (undivided), 

 are oblong and blunt ; those next in order are connected by a wing to the 

 rachis (stalk of the leafy portion), bluntly lobed one-third of the way to 

 the midrib, 2in. to Sin. long, and |in. broad ; the lowest are distantly placed 

 and grow gradually shorter. The texture is somewhat leathery, and the 

 stalks and under-surface are finely hairy. The sori (spore masses), which are 

 particularly small, are disposed in rows near the midrih.— Hooker, S'pecies 

 Filicum, iv., p. 65. 



N. (Lastrea) atratum — Las'-tre-a ,• a-tra'-tum (dark-coloured). This is 

 synonymous with N. hirtipes. 



N. (Lastrea) attenuatum — Las'-tre-a ; at-ten-il-a'-tum (attenuated, 

 diminished). Baker. 

 A stove species, of large dimensions, native of the Philippine Islands, 

 with ample fronds 3ft. to 4ft. long, 2ft. broad, and borne on firm, naked 

 stalks 1ft. or more long and of a glossy nature. The leaflets, 9in. to 12in. 

 long and about Jin. broad, are very acuminate (terminating in a long, tapering 

 point), the edge being cut three-quarters of the way down into entire, 



