582 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



N. (Lastrea) Walkerae— Las'-tre-a ; Walk'-er-te (Mrs. Walker's), Baker. 



A very handsome, stove species, native of Ceylon, producing an abundance 

 of ample, leathery, oblong- spear -shaped fronds of a somewhat rigid habit, often 

 measuring 3ft. in length by Ift. in breadth. These fronds, which are simply 

 pinnate (only once divided to the midrib), are borne on stout stalks 1ft. to 

 IJft. long, clothed throughout with narrow, pale brown, glossy scales. This 

 species is, however, very variable, as sometimes plants of it are found with 

 deeply -cleft leaflets, which organs are often furnished with a large auricle 

 (ear) at the superior base. The whole plant is more or less densely clothed 

 with bristly scales, which produce a very striking and pleasing appearance. — 

 Hookei\ Synopsis FiUcum, p. 493. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 334. 



N. (Lastrea) Wardii — Las'-tre-a ; Ward'-i-i (Ward's), Baker, 



A stove species, of medium dimensions, native of the Seychelles. Its 

 fronds are deltoid (in shape of the Greek delta, A), 2ft. long, and very 

 finely divided, being four or five times pinnatifid (divided half-way to the 

 midrib). The numerous leaflets are distinctly stalked, as are also their 

 pinnules (leafits), while the final lobes are oblong in shape, closely set, of 

 a fragile texture, smooth, and bright green on both surfaces. The large sori 

 (spore masses), disposed along the mid veins, are covered with a smooth, 

 persistent involucre. — HooJcer, Synopsis Filicum, p. 500. 



N. (Eunephrodium) Wrightii — Eu-neph-ro'-di-um ; Wright'-i-i 

 (Wright's), Hooker. 

 This pretty, stove species, native of Cuba, produces from a creeping 

 rhizome (prostrate stem) oblong-spear-shaped fronds 6in. to 9in. long and IJin. 

 broad, borne on upright, firm stalks 4in. to 6in. long and of a greyish colour ; 

 they are cut down nearly to the midrib above, and quite below, into close, 

 oblong, entire or auricled (eared), spreading lobes of a leathery texture and 

 slightly hairy underneath. The sori (spore masses) are disposed close to the 

 margin of the lobes. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., j). 64, t. 239. 



