NEPHRODIUM. 



539 



within a short distance of the midrib into small lobes, fornished Avith 

 a prominent gland at the base, and are of a leathery texture. The sori (spore 

 masses), disposed along the mid vein, are covered with a firm, hairy involucre. 

 — Hooker^ Species Filicum, iv,, p. 106. 



N. (Pleocnemia) Leuzeanum— Ple-oc-ne'-mi-a Leuz-e-a'-num (Leuze's), 

 Hooker. 



This very handsome, robust-growing, stove species, native of N"orthern 

 India, Luzon, China, the Philippines, Mishmee, Assam, Sylhet, Burmah, 

 and the Fiji Islands, produces from a somewhat arborescent stem, densely scaly 

 at . the crown, its almost triangular fronds, which are 4ft. to 6ft. long, and 

 borne on stout stalks 2ft. to oft. long and densely clothed at their base with 

 very narrow, curly, dark brown scales ; these scales, though found on nearly 

 the whole length of the stalks, get gradually less as the leafy portion of the 

 frond is approached. The leaflets, 1ft. to l^ft. long and 6in. to Sin. broad, 

 are divided into oblong, somewhat sickle -shaped segments (see Plate, for 

 which we are indebted to Messrs. W. and J. Birkenhead) Sin. to 4in. long, 

 the lowest on the lower side usually showing three or four distinct pinnules 

 (leafits) cut down to the bare midrib, the other parts of the same segments 

 being cleft only to a broadly -winged midrib into entire or undulated lobes. 

 The abundant but comparatively small sori (spore masses) are usually disposed 

 in close, single rows in the lobes, and covered with a very fugacious 

 involucre. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 61. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, ii., p. 441. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 134. 



N. (Eunephrodium) Levyi — Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; Le'-vy-i (Levy's), 

 Baker. 



A greenhouse species, native of Nicaragua, of small dimensions and of 

 little decorative value. Its fronds, including the grey-hairy stalks on which 

 they are borne, seldom measure more than 1ft. in length ; they are of a dull 

 green colour and slightly downy on both surfaces. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, 

 p. 502. 



N. (Lastrea) Lindeni— Las'-tre-a ; Lin'-den-i (Linden's), Baker. 



A pretty, greenhouse species, of small dimensions, native of Mexico and 

 Guatemala. Its spear-shaped fronds, 6in. to 9in. long, 2in. to oin. broad, 



