508 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



2ft. long. The leaflets, of a leathery texture and naked on both surfaces, 

 are cut about a third of the way down to the rachis (stalk of the leafy 

 portion) into oblong, blunt lobes, on the margins of which the sori (spore 

 masses), covered by a firm, persistent involucre, are regularly disposed. — 

 Hooher^ Species Filimm., iv., p. 82. 



N. (Eunephrodium) ferox— Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; fer'-ox (fierce), Moore. 



This handsome, stove species, native of Kumaon, Java, and the Philippine 

 Islands, is of peculiarly robust habit, and, when planted out, attains large 

 dimensions. Its ample, pinnate (once-divided) fronds, which attain 4ft. in 

 length and 2ft. or more in breadth, are produced from an upright crown, 

 and are borne on strong stalks 1ft. to 2ft. long, densely covered with long, 

 narrow, black scales. The numerous and closely-set leaflets are of a somewhat 

 leathery texture and glossy on both surfaces ; they are cut about one-third 

 of the way down into spear-shaped lobes. The large and conspicuous sori 

 (spore masses) are solitary on, or close to, each main vein. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, iv., p. 77. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 129. 



N. (Lastrea) ferrugineum— Las'-tre-a ; fer-ru-gin'-e-um (rusty-coloured), 

 Baker. 



A beautiful, stove species, from Southern India, where, according to 

 Beddome, it is found on the Neilgherries, in Sholas on the Koondahs, on the 

 road between Avalanche and Sisparah. Its massive yet elegant fronds, 

 somewhat triangular in shape and soft in texture, sometimes attain 2ft, in 

 length and IJft. in breadth, and are tripinnate (three times divided to the 

 midrib). The leaflets spread at a right angle, the lowest being 6in. to 9in. 

 long and Sin. to oin. broad. The pinnules (leafits) of the under-side are the 

 largest, spear-shaped, bluntish, closely set, and divided again into broad, egg- 

 shaped segments, with close, nearly entire lobes toothed on the margins. The 

 stout stalks, Ift. to IJft. long, as well as the rachises (stalks of the leafy 

 portion) are densely clothed, especially on their upper part, with spreading, 

 broad scales of a reddish-brown colour. The large and conspicuous sori 

 (spore masses) are disposed two or three to a lobe, to the upper half of 

 which they are confined. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 283. Beddome, Ferns 

 of Southern India, t. 100. 



