481 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



creeping rhizome (prostrate stem), and borne on naked or slightly hairy stalks 

 6in. to I2in. long, are IJft. to 2ft. long, 6in. to Sin. broad, and furnished with 

 leaflets cut down nearly to the rachis (stalk) into spreading or sickle-shaped 

 lobes of a somewhat leathery texture. There are from six to eight veinlets 

 on each side, and the sori (spore masses), disposed close to the margin, are 

 covered with a minute, cihated, fugacious involucre. — Hooker^ Synojms FUicum, 

 p. 268. Beddome, Ferns of Southern India., t. 247. 



N. (Sagenia) COnfluens— Sag-e'-ni-a ; con'-flu-ens (cohering), F. Mueller. 



A greenhouse species, of very distinct appearance, native of Queensland, 

 with fronds deltoid (in shape of the Greek delta. A), 1ft. to l^ft. each way, 

 and tripinnatifid (three times divided nearly to the midrib). Their lowest 

 leaflets, which are the largest and also deltoid, are unequal- sided and furnished 

 with large, spear-shaped pinnules (leafits), the lowest of which are deeply 

 lobed. The fronds are of a moderately firm texture, bright green on both 

 surfaces, and densely hairy on the ribs. The large sori (spore masses), 

 disposed in one row near the main veins, are covered with a small involucre 

 of a fugacious nature. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 504. 



N. (Lastrea) COStale — Las'-tre-a ; cos-ta'-le (on the midrib). Baker. 



This is a stove species, native of Venezuela, with broadly spear-shaped 

 fronds l^ft. long, furnished with numerous sessile (stalkless) leaflets, strap- 

 shaped and sharp -pointed, 4in. long, lin. broad, cut down to a narrow wing 

 into blunt lobes of a parchment-like texture, smooth and of a dull green colour 

 on both surfaces. The densely-produced sori (spore masses) are disposed 

 on the midvein, and covered with a persistent, reddish, kidney-shaped, and 

 bristly involucre. — Hooker, Synop)sis Filicum, p. 495. 



N. (Lastrea) crassifolium — Las'-tre-a ; cras-sif-ol'-i-um (thick-leaved). 

 Hooker. 



A stove species, of medium dimensions, native of the Philippines and the 

 Malaccas, with fronds IJft. to 2ft. long. Sin. to 12in. broad, and borne on 

 tufted stalks 1ft. or more long and of a shghtly hairy nature. The leaflets, 

 of a peculiarly thick, leathery texture, are 4in. to 6in. long, lin. to l^in. 

 broad, and divided into blunt, sickle-shaped lobes reaching from half to 



