NEPHRODIUM. 



565 



of a much, lighter colour than those of the typical plant ; and N. r. argutum 

 of Kaulfuss, which is essentially a North American plant, found growing wild 

 on rocky hillsides and canons, often in copses, from Oregon and California to 

 the Sierra Madre of North- Western Mexico. Eaton further states that the 

 latter variety is one of the commonest Ferns of Cahfornia, where it is known 

 as the " Rigid Wood Fern," but most abundant west of the Coast Range, 

 though occurring as far east as Plumas County. By the same authority it is 

 also stated that this variety has larger and broader fronds than the European 

 N. rigidum, but that it certainly presents no points of specific distinction, 

 and that " some of the Oregon specimens, collected near the Willamette River, 

 are so nearly typical rigidum, that they would not be challenged if mixed 

 among European specimens." — Eaton, Ferns of North America, ii., p. 4. 



N. (Eunephrodium) sagittaefolium — Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; sag-it-ta?- 

 fol'-i-um (arrow-leaved), Moore. 

 A stove species, of large dimensions, but of little decorative value, native 

 of Java. — Hooker, Sjjecies Filicum, iv., p. 78. 



N. (Lastrea) Salvini — Las'-tre-a Sal-vi'-ni (Salvin's), Baker. 



This stove species, native of Gruatemala, produces spear-shaj)ed fronds 1ft. 

 to IJft. long and Sin. to 4in. broad, their stalks being Gin. to 9in. long and 

 provided at the base with a tuft of narrow, brown scales. The spear-shaped 

 leaflets, l|in. to 2in. long and fin. broad, are closely set and cut down to 

 the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into overlapping, oblong pinnules 

 (leafits), of a soft yet firm texture, and blunt lobes reaching about half-way 

 down. The sori (spore masses) are disposed at the base of these lobes, often 

 one to each lobe, and covered with a firm, naked involucre. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 274. 



N. (Lastrea) sanctum— Las'-tre-a ; sanc'-tum (sacred), Baker. 



A stove species, of particularly small dimensions, native of the West 

 Indies and Guatemala ; it is a perfect gem, which, although well adapted for 

 growing in a Fern- case, has a great dislike to being watered overhead. Its 

 habit is very peculiar, as its growth is rosulate — that is to say, its numerous 

 spear-shaped fronds, which seldom exceed 9in. in length and 2in. in breadth, 



