528 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



particularly slender nature of its elegant fronds, which are of peculiarly 

 narrow dimensions when compared with their height. These fronds are 

 borne on slender stalks 6in. to 9in. long, slightly hairy, and produced from 

 a wide-creeping rhizome (prostrate stem) ; and although their leafy 

 portion is frequently l|ft. long, it is rarely more than 6in. broad. The 

 leaflets, 2in. to Sin. long and |in. broad, are cut down to within a short 

 distance of the rachis (stalk) into close, narrow-oblong lobes, the lowest pair 

 of which are usually thrown back. The sori (spore masses) are nearly 

 terminal and are covered with a naked involucre. — Hooker., Species Filicum, 

 iv., p. 93. 



N. (Sagenia) Griffithii— Sag-e'-m-a ; Grif-fith'-i-i (Griffith's), Baker. 



A strong-growing, stove species, with fronds 3ft. to 4ft. long, borne on 

 brownish stalks Ift. to 2ft. long ; they consist of a large terminal leaflet cut 

 down nearly to the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into spear-shaped 

 divisions, and several leaflets on each side Ift. or more long and nearly as 

 broad, of a soft, papery texture and light green in colour. The rather large 

 sori (spore masses) are disposed in two rows, nearly all terminating the 

 veinlets.^ — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 300. Becldome, Ferns of British 

 India, t. 337. 



N. (Lastrea) Grisebachii — Las'-tre-a ; Grise-bach'-i-i (Grisebach's), 

 Baker. 



A stove species, of gigantic dimensions, native of Cuba, much in the way 

 of the better-known N. setigerum, from which it diflers principally by its larger 

 * size, and also by the stalks of its fronds being densely clothed at the base 

 with spear-shaped scales fully lin. long, which leave distinct tubercles when 

 they fall. — Hooker, SjJecies Filicum, iv., p. 264. 



N. (Eunephrodium) guadalupense — Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; guad-al-u- 



pen'-se (from Guadaloupe), Fee. 

 A stove species, very closely related to N. abrujjtum, from which it 

 differs in the dull green colour of both surfaces of its fronds, and in the 

 shghtly downy character of the ribs ; the veins are also much closer than 

 those of N, abruptum.— Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 503. 



