596 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



species througli the distinctly notched character of its leaflets and the disposition 

 of its sori (spore masses), which are placed at the tips of the lobes. Its fronds,- 

 2ft. to oft. long and Sin. to 12in. broad, are furnished with leaflets 4in. to Gin. 

 long, about Jin. broad, sharp-pointed at their extremity, and deeply notched 

 along their edges. They are of a somewhat leathery texture, and the spore 

 masses are covered by a firm, kidney-shaped involucre. — Hoolzer^ Species 

 Filicum.^ iv., p. 155. 



N. hirsutula — hir-su'-tul-a (slightly-hairy). A variety of N. exaltata. 



N. imbricata — im-bric-a'-ta (overlapping). ' Synonymous with N. cordifolia. 



N. neglecta — ne-glec'-ta (untrimmed). This is a variety of N. exaltata. 



N. obliterata — ob-lit-er-a'-ta (forgotten). A synonym of N. ramosa. 



N. obtusifolia — ob-tu-sif-oh-i-a (blunt-leaved). This is synonymous with 

 N. cordifolia. 



N. pectinata — pec-tin-a'-ta (comb-like). A very distinct variety of 

 N. cordifolia. 



N. philippinensis — phil-ip-pi-nen'-sis (from the Philippine Islands), Moore. 



This lovely and most distinct species, of comparatively small dimensions 

 and compact habit, succeeds equally well under either stove or greenhouse 

 treatment. It is entirely distinct from all other known species, inasmuch as 

 its narrow fronds, seldom exceeding 1ft. in length, are cpite erect and produced 

 from thickly-tufted crowns. On each side of the midrib, which is of a bright 

 shining brown colour, are the leaflets, set very closely together, and affecting 

 a deflexed position ; they are of a pleasing dark green colour, leathery in 

 texture, strongly eared at the base, and finely toothed at the edges. The 

 curious position of the leaflets and the upright habit of the whole plant make 

 it a most interesting Fern. 



N. platyotis — plat-y-o'-tis (broad-eared). Synonymous with iV. acuta. 



N. pluma — plu'-ma (feather-like), Moore. 



This very handsome, greenhouse species, native of Madagascar, is 

 deciduous, being deprived of its foliage fix)m October to the beginning 



