544 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



N. (Lastrea) microsorum — Las'-tre-a ; mi-cros-o'-rum (having small 

 sori), Hooker. 



A greenhouse species, of medium dimensions, native of Mount Chimborazo, 

 with fronds 2ft. long, Ift. broad, and borne on stalks Ift. or more in length 

 and densely scaly, especially below. The leaflets, of a soft, papery texture, 

 are about 6in. long and cut down to the rachis (stalk) below into close, blunt 

 lobes, on which the small and abundant sori (spore masses) are disposed 

 midway between the edge and the midrib. — Hooker^ Species Filicum, 

 iv., p. 106. 



N. (Lastrea) Milnei— Las'-tre-a ; MiF-ne-i (Milne's), Hooker. 



In this stove species, native of Fiji, and somewhat resembhng N. dissectum 

 in general appearance, the fronds, lift, to 2ft. long, Iffc. or more broad, and 

 somewhat deltoid (in shape of the Greek delta, A), are borne on naked, blackish, 

 polished stalks 1ft. or more in length. The lowest leaflets, which are much 

 the largest, are frequently Gin. to 9in. long and 4in. to oin. broad ; they are 

 divided into close, lanceolate pinnules (spear-shaped leafits), cut down throughout 

 to a narrowly-winged rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into narrow-oblong, 

 deeply- cleft lobes of a somewhat leathery texture, deep green in colour, and 

 smooth on both surfaces. The sori (spore masses) are terminal on the short 

 lateral branches of the veins of the lobes. — Hooker^ Species Filicum.^ iv., p. 143 ; 

 Second Century of Ferns, t. 62. 



N. (Eunephrodium) molle— Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; mol'-le (soft), Desvaux. 



This greenhouse species, of medium dimensions, which, on account of its 

 free growth and prolific character, is frequently met with in cultivation, is a 

 variable plant, with a remarkably wide range of habitat. It is found from Cuba 

 and Mexico to Peru and Brazil, from the Himalayas and Hong-Kong to New 

 Zealand and New South Wales, also in Madeira, the Azores, Cape Colony, 

 the Mascarene Islands, on the Gruinea Coast, &c. Its spear-shaped fronds, 1ft. to 

 2ft. long, Sin. to 12in. broad, and borne on tufted, somewhat slender stalks 

 Ift. or more in length and slightly scaly at the base, have their leaflets, 4in. 

 to 6in. long, fin. broad, of a soft, papery texture and pale green colour, cut 

 about half-way down to the midrib into narrow, blunt lobes (Fig. 132) ; the 

 lower leaflets are placed at a little distance from each other and are rather 



