574 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



are distinctly divided into segments, which are oblong, blunt-toothed, and 

 sometimes twice toothed. — Lowe.^ Our Native Ferns, i., p. 329. 



N. (Lastrea) Sprengelii— Las'-tre-a ; Spreng-el'-i-i (Sprengel's), Hooker. 



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

 of the West Indies and Gruatemala. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 94. 



N. (Lastrea) Sprucei— Las'-tre-a ; Spru'-ce-i (Spruce's), Baker. 



This stove species, native of the Andes of Ecuador, has fronds 2ft. to 3ft. 

 long and Sin. to 12in. broad, with leaflets 4in. to 6in. long, lin. broad, of 

 a soft, papery texture, and cut down nearly to the rachis (stalk) into spreading 

 lobes with a considerable space between them. The sori (spore masses), placed 

 nearer the midrib than the edge, are covered with a large, distinct involucre. 

 — Hooker, Synojjsis Filicum, p. 269. 



N. (Lastrea) Standishii— Las'-tre-a ; Stand-ish'-i-i (Standish's). 



This is the popular or commercial name, for which we can find no 

 authority, for a very useful and highly decorative Fern, the proper or 

 botanical name of which is Aspidium laserpitiifolium. 



N. (Eunephrodium) SUbcuneatum— Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; sub-cun-e-a'- 

 tum (nearly wedge-shaped), Baker. 

 A stove species, of small dimensions, native- of Cayenne, producing from 

 a short-creeping rhizome (prostrate stem) its broadly -spear -shaped fronds, of 

 a dull green colour on both surfaces. The small sori (spore masses) are 

 covered with a smooth, fugacious involucre. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 503. 



N. (Lastrea) SUbquinquefidum — Las'-tre-a ; sub-quin-quef'-id-um 

 (somewhat five-cleft). Hooker. 

 This very pretty, stove species, which is also known in gardens under 

 the various names of N. funestum, N. pilosissimum, and N. Vogelli, has a very 

 wide range of habitat, being found from the West Indies to Brazil, in the 

 Island of Mssobe, in Angola, on the Gruinea Coast, and in Senegambia. It 

 is of medium dimensions only, for its fronds, which are borne on brownish, 

 firm stalks Ift. or more long and naked or hairy upwards, are Gin. to 18in. 



