540 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



and bipinnatifid (twice divided nearly to the midrib), are borne on tufted, 

 slender, grey stalks 3in. to 6in. long and densely clothed near the base with 

 spreading, narrow, brown scales. The spear-shaped, short-stalked leaflets are 

 cut down nearly to the midrib into close, blunt lobes of a peculiarly cleft and 

 notched nature and of a membranous texture. The small sori (spore masses), 

 disposed along the midvein, are covered with an involucre of a fugacious 

 nature. — Hooker, Synojms Filicum, p. 493. 



N. (Sagenia) Lobbii— Sag-e'-ni-a LoV-bi-i (Lobb's), Baker. 



This stove species, native of Borneo, is- particularly striking on account 

 of its somewhat triangular fronds, about 1ft. each way and borne on naked 

 stalks 6in. or more long, being composed of a terminal leaflet 4in. to 6in. 

 long, tapering gradually from the middle to each end, and two similar lateral 

 ones on each side, the lower long- stalked and tripartite (divided into three 

 parts). The texture is somewhat leathery, and the abundant sori (spore 

 masses) are scattered over the whole under- side of the fronds. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, iv., p. 59, t. 232. 



N. (Eunephrodium) longipes — Eu-neph-ro'-di -um ; long'-ip-es (long- 

 footed), Moore. 



A stove species, of large dimensions, native of Java. It is of peculiar 

 appearance, through the long stalks, 3ft. to 4ft. long, upon which its fronds, 

 about 3ft. long and 9in. to lOin. broad, are borne. The leaflets, about 5in. 

 long and fin. broad, are cut two-thirds of the way down into oblique, rather 

 sharp, oblong lobes, with a distinct sinus (depression) between them ; they 

 are of a somewhat leathery texture, and their upper surface is densely hairy 

 on the veins. The sori (spore masses) are disposed about midway between 

 the midrib and the edge. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 290. 



N. (Sagenia) macrophyllum — Sag-e'-ni-a ; mac-roph-yr-lum (large- 

 leaved), Baker. 



This is a very distinct, stove species, native of the West Indies, Tropical 

 America, and Brazil. Its handsome fronds, borne on tufted, dull-brownish 

 stalks Ift. to 2ft. long and scaly below, are 2ft, to 3ft. long, Ift. or more broad, 

 and composed of a large terminal leaflet, often forked at the base, and from 



