478 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



produced from a stout, wide -creeping, densely scaly rhizome (prostrate stem). 

 The leaflets, 2in. to 3in. long and about lin. broad, are cut down to a broadly- 

 winged rachis (stalk) into narrow -oblong, notched lobes (Fig. 116), having 

 about six veinlets on each side, with a sorus (spore mass) on each, disposed 

 midway between the midrib and the edge, and covered by an involucre of 

 leathery texture and of a persistent nature.— Z7(?o^-er, Species Filicum, iv., 

 p. Ill ; Second Century of Ferns, t. 93. 



Fig. 116. Frond of Nephrodiuin borneense 

 (i nat. size). 



N. (Lastrea) Boryanum— Las'-tre-a ; Bo-ry-a'-num (Bory's), Baker. 



A greenhouse species, of large dimensions, native of the Himalayas 

 (Beddome states that it grows on the Anamallay Hills at 3000ft. elevation, 

 and in Sholas about Ootacamund, on the Neilgherries, at about 7000ft.) ; it is 

 also found in Moulmein, Java, and Bourbon. Its ample fronds, 6ft. to 8ft. 

 long and 2ft. to 3ft. broad, are borne on straw-coloured or brownish stalks 

 2ft. to 3ft. long, and produced from a strong, creeping rhizome (prostrate 

 stem) of a fleshy nature, furnished with numerous coarse roots. The lower 

 pinna3 (leaflets), which are 1ft. to l^ft. long and 6in. broad, are divided into 

 lanceolate pinnules (spear-shaped leafits) 3in. to 4in. long and cut down to 

 a winged rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into blunt, spreading, more or 

 less toothed lobes. The texture of the fronds is soft and papery, and the 

 spore masses are disposed in rows near the midrib. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 iv., p. 133. Beddome, Ferns of Southern hidia, t. 97. 



