NEPHRODIUM. 



481 



N. (Lastrea) catopteron— Las'-tre-a ; cat-op'-ter-on (winged downwards), 

 Hooker. 



This greenhouse species, native of Cape Colony, the Mascarene Islands, 

 and the Gruinea Coast, is of large dimensions, its ample fronds, borne on 

 stalks 3ft. to 4ft. long and of a downy nature, usually measuring from 4ft. 

 to 6ft. in length and from 2ft. to 3ft. in breadth. The lower leaflets are 

 oblong- spear- shaped, 1ft. to IJft. long, and divided into close, spear-shaped 

 pinnules (leafits), which in their turn are cut into oblong, bluntish, more or 

 less deeply-cleft segments. The texture is soft and papery, the rachises (stalks 

 of the leafy portion) are downy on both sides, their veinlets are forked, and 

 the sori (spore masses) are covered by an mdusium of firm texture. — Hooker^ 

 Species Filicum, iv., p. 137. Nicholson, Dictionarij of Gardening, ii., p. 440. 



N. (Lastrea) chinense— Las'-tre-a ; chi-nen'-se (Chinese), Baker. 



A greenhouse species, of comparatively small dimensions, native of China, 

 Korea, and Japan. Its nearly triangular fronds, 1ft. to IJft. long, 6in. to 

 9in. broad, and produced from a decumbent rhizome (prostrate stem), are 

 borne on slender stalks about 6in. long, clothed throughout with narrow, 

 dark brown scales ; they are furnished with only a few leaflets, the lowest 

 much the largest, of a soft, papery texture. The abundant sori (spore masses) 

 are distant from the midrib. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 278. 



N. (Lastrea) chrysolobum — Las'-tre-a ; chry-sol'-ob-um (golden- 

 lobed), Fee. 



This very pretty, greenhouse species, of small dimensions, native of Brazil 

 and Columbia, though still rare in cultivation, is of great decorative value. 

 Its elegant little fronds, 6in. to 9in. long, 3in. to 4in. broad, and borne on 

 slender, tufted stalks 4in. to 6in. long, of a downy nature, have their leaflets 

 cut down nearly to the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) mto close, blunt, entire 

 lobes, the lowest pair deflexed and slightly stalked. The pecuharity of this 

 little Fern is the golden-downy nature of the under- surface of its fronds, 

 singularly contrasting with the glossy nature and dark green colour of the 

 upper surface. The veinlets are from six to eight on a side, and the sori 

 (spore masses) are situated at their extremity. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, 

 p. 262. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 440. 



VOL. II, 2 I 



