NEPHRODIUM. 



521 



fronds, simply pinnate (only once divided to the midrib), with segments 

 deeply cut near the base, are 20in. long and only 3Jin. broad. It also diifers 

 from cristatum in having its fronds terminated by a tufted crest, which forms 

 a compact, rounded head, all the margins of which are deeply cut ; and also 

 by the shape of its leaflets, which are closely set, narrow, and broadest at 

 the base, the lobes being finely toothed. The fructification in this variety is 

 confined to the upper half of the frond, where the sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed in a single row on either side of the midrib, being much smaller 

 in size and less conspicuous than in cristatum. The leaflets near the base of 

 the frond are spread out, much branched, but not tufted at the extremity, 

 and only show a slight tendency to be crested. — Loive, Our Native 

 Ferns, i., fig. 228. 



N. (Lastrea) firmifolium — Las'-tre-a ; fir-mif-oF-i-um (firm-leaved). Baker. 



A stove sj)ecies, of medium dimensions, native of the Andes of East Peru. 

 It is much like N. acutum, from which it difi'ers principally in the rigidly- 

 firm texture of its fronds, in their much narrower and less deeply-cut pinnules 

 (leafits), and in its smooth rachises (stalks of the leafy portion). — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 501. 



N. (Lastrea) Fischeri — Las'-tre-a ; Fis-che'-ri (Fischer's), Baker. 



This stove species, of small dimensions, native of Brazil, has oblong-spear- 

 shaped fronds Gin. to Sin. long and 2jin. to 3in. broad, borne on tufted, smooth 

 stalks 2in. to oin. long. The short-stalked leaflets, of a thin but firm texture, 

 are cut down to a narrow wing into close, entire, blunt lobes, and are smooth 

 on both surfaces. The sori (spore masses), disposed along the miclvein, are 

 covered by a smooth involucre of a persistent nature. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 496. 



N. (Lastrea) flaccidum — Las^-tre-a ; flac'-cid-um (relaxed), Hooker. 



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

 where it occurs at an elevation of 6000ft., also of Ceylon and Java. In 

 general appearance it somewhat resembles some of the least-cut forms of 

 Asp)lenium {Athyrium) Filix-foemina. The fronds, 1ft. to IJft. long and 6in. 

 to Sin. broad, are borne on slender, naked stalks 1ft. or more long. The 



