560 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



N. pseudo-mas— pseu'-do-mas (false Male Fern), Wollaston. 



A form of tlie common Filix-mas, from which it diiFers through its 

 fronds being of larger dimensions and of a more leathery texture ; they are 

 also said to possess an evergreen character. Mr. Wollaston ranks this variety 

 as a distinct species.— Our Native Ferns, i., pp. 234 and 237. 



N. (Eunephrodium) pteroides — Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; pter-6-i'-des 

 (Pteris-like), /, Smith. 

 This stove species, of large dimensions, better known in garden collections 

 as N. terminans, possesses a very mde range of habitat, being found in China 

 and Queensland, also in the Malayan and Philippine Islands, in Ceylon, and 

 on the Himalayas, the Neilgherries, and the Anamallays, where, according to 

 Beddome, it occurs in moist forests and outskirts of Sholas at between 2000ft. 

 and 4000ft. elevation. The simply-pinnate fronds, 2ft. to 4ft. long, 1ft. or 

 more broad, and borne on slender, greyish stalks Ift. to 2ft. long and slightly 

 scaly below, are furnished with deeply-lobed leaflets of a soft, papery texture 

 and bright green colour. The sori (spore masses) are disposed only along 

 the margins of the lobes. — Hoolcer, Species Filicum, iv., p. 73. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p.' 442. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, vi., 

 p. 44. Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, t. 90. 



N. (Lastrea) pubescens— Las'-tre-a ,• pu-bes'-cens (downy), Desvaux. 



A very handsome, evergreen, stove species, native of the West Indies, 

 and one which, in general appearance, somewhat resembles the better-known 

 iV. decompositum. Its fronds, produced from a wide-creeping rhizome (prostrate 

 stem), and borne on slender stalks 6in. to 12in. long, are deltoid (in shape of 

 the Grreek delta. A), 6in. to 18in. long, with lower leaflets much the largest. 

 The sharply- toothed segments are unequal- sided, being largest on the upper 

 side, and of a somewhat leathery texture. The sori (spore masses), small 

 and distant from the midrib, are of a very pale straw-colour when in a young 

 state, becoming pale green with age. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 146. 

 Hooker and Greville, Icones Filicum, t. 102. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 vi., t. 25. 



N. (Lastrea) pumilum — Las'-tre-a ; pu'-mil-um (dwarf). A variety of 

 N. Filix-mas. 



