506 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



fronds 1ft. to IJft. long and Sin. to 12in. broad, borne on stalks 6in. to 9m. 

 long and more or less densely clothed with narrow scales of a dark brown 

 or blackish colour. The leaflets are spear-shaped, and the lowest, which are 

 also the largest, frequently measure 6in. long and l^in. broad ; they are cut 

 down to the rachis (stalk) below into oblong, bluntish pinnules (leafits) 2in. 

 to Sin. broad and with slightly -toothed edges. The texture, though of 

 a papery nature, is firm, and both surfaces are naked. The sori (spore masses) 

 are disposed near the midrib, six to nine to a pinnule, and are covered by 

 flat involucres of a bright red hue when young. — Hool-er, Sjjecies Filicim., 

 iv., p. 120, t. 253. NicIwIso?i, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 440. 



iV". erythrosorim, or, as it is most popularly called, Lastrea erythrosora., 

 is a highly decorative species (see Coloured Plate), in many respects distinct 

 from all other members of the genus, and a valuable addition to the list of 

 Ferns possessing characters sufficiently attractive to deserve cultivation on 

 a large scale. It has proved perfectly hardy under our London climate, 

 having stood, without any protection whatever, the test of our hardest 

 winters ; but under such treatment it becomes deciduous. When treated as 

 a cool indoor subject, its magnificent fronds, of a beautiful bronzy hue in 

 a young state, but turning with age to a dark shining green, remain on the 

 plant all the year round, and make it a very useful species for winter 

 decoration. The whole plant is rendered exceedingly attractive by the bright 

 red indusia, which contrast pleasantly with the dark glossy green of the upper 

 surface of the frond. N. erythrosorum is easily propagated from spores. 



N. (Eunephrodium) eusorum — Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; eu-so'-rum (having 

 prominent sori). Synonymous with N. truncatum. 



N. (Pleocnemia) excellens — Ple-oc-ne'-mi-a ; ex-cel'-lens (excellent), 

 Blume. 



A stove species, of large dimensions, native of Java, with ample fronds 

 bipinnatifid (twice divided to the midrib) and borne on stout, naked stalks of 

 a greyish colour. The lower leaflets, 1ft. long and 3in. to 4in. broad, are 

 cut down nearly to the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into entire, spear- 

 shaped lobes of a somewhat leathery texture. The small and copious sori 

 (spore masses) are disposed principally in two irregular rows near the midrib 

 of the lobes. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 63. 



