580 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



smooth ; but frequently a few little scales and a very scanty and minute 

 pubescence (down) may be detected alon^ the midribs and veins, especially 

 along the margin of the lobes. Eaton adds (p. 76) that, although known 

 since the beginning of the present century, this Fern was first discovered 

 within the limits of North America in 1873 by Mr, C. E. Faxon, who collected 

 it near Enterprise, Florida.— ^a^ow. Ferns of North America, i., t. 13. 



N. (Lastrea) varium— Las'-tre-a ; var'-i-um (variable). 



The Fern cultivated under this name in gardens is the Aspidium varium 

 of Swartz. It is closely related to N. eri/throsorum, its foliage being of the 

 same leathery and fog-resisting nature. 



N. (Eunephrodium) venulosum — Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; ve-nul-o'-sum 

 (small-veined), Hooker. 

 A greenhouse species, of large dimensions, native of Fernando Po. Its 

 fronds, rising from a creeping rhizome (prostrate stem), are 4ft. long and 1ft. 

 to IJft. broad, and are borne on sharply-angled, greenish, naked stalks IJft. 

 long ; they are furnished with numerous leaflets, the lowest of which are 

 short and very distant. The largest leaflets. Sin. to 9in. long and lin. broad, 

 are cut down half-way to the midrib into slightly-toothed, oblong lobes of 

 a somewhat leathery texture, bright green in colour, and naked on both 

 surfaces. The sori (spore masses) are disposed on each vein about half-way 

 to the edge. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 71. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, ii,, p. 444. 



N. (Eunephrodium) venustum — Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; ven-us'-tum 

 (charming), /. Smith. 

 This is a very handsome, stove species, of medium dimensions, native of 

 Jamaica. Its fronds, borne on tufted, greyish, glossy stalks 1ft. or more in 

 length, are 2ft. or more in length and Ift. in breadth, and are furnished with 

 numerous spreading leaflets, 6in. long and lin. broad, cut into blunt, oblong 

 lobes reaching half-way down to the rachis (stalk), and of a soft, papery 

 texture. The sori (sjDore masses) are disposed principally in the lobes close 

 to the edge. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 71. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, ii., p. 444. 



