NO THO CHL^NA . 



619 



intermediate house, and, on account of the length of its gracefully-pendulous 

 fronds, it should be grown, if possible, in a hanging basket — really the only 

 way to show otf to advantage its lovely fronds, which are IJft. to 2ft. long, 

 lin. to Sin. broad, and borne on firm yet flexible stalks 2in. to 4in. long 

 and of a chestnut-brown colour. These fronds are simply pinnate, being 

 provided with short-stalked, egg-shaped or oblong pinnaa (leaflets), disposed 

 alternately along the stalk (Fig, 150), and varying from entire and undulated 

 to deeply cleft. The texture is thick and leathery, the upper surface is pale 

 green and slightly hairy, while the under-side is densely coated with small, 

 narrow, rusty-brown scales. The black and abundant sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed along the edges of the leaflets, which are shghtly inflexed. — Hooker^ 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 108. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 456. 

 Botanical Magazine, t. 4699. Eaton, Ferns of North America, i., t. 39. 



N. squamosa — squa-mo'-sa (scaly). Fee. 



This stove species, which is also known as N. Gillesii, is said to have 

 been introduced into England about 1842 ; it is a native of Mexico and Peru, 

 and is also reported as coming from Cerro del Morro, San Luis, Argentine 

 Republic. The broadly spear-shaped fronds. Sin. to 4in. long, lin. or more 

 in breadth, and borne on tufted stalks lin. to 4in. long, are bipinnate (twice 

 divided to the midrib). The egg-shaped, blunt leaflets are usually opposite 

 or disposed in pairs ; they are cut down to the rachis (stalk of the leafy 

 portion) into several narrow-oblong pinnules (leafits), of a somewhat leathery 

 texture, and have their upper surface of a pale colour and smooth, while 

 their under-side is densely covered with fringed scales of a light brown colour. 

 The light brownish sori (spore masses) are disposed along the margin of 

 the leaflets. — Flooher and Greville, Icones Filicum, t. 151. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 456. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 i., t. 17b. 



N. (Cincinalis) SUlphurea — Cin-cin-a'-hs ; sul-phur'-e-a (coloured hke 

 sulphur), /. Smith. 



This greenhouse species, native of California and Mexico, is very distinct 

 on account of the shape of its fronds, which are deltoid (in form of the 

 Greek delta. A) and 2in. to Sin. each way ; they are produced from a creeping 



