OPHIOGLOSSUM. 



25 



and Mexico, where, according to Tweedie, " it only grows in the axils of old 

 leaves of a species of Palm," and more rarely on moist schistose rocks. 

 0. pahnatum is of more robust habit than most other species, and has a 

 totally different appearance, the great weight of its generally hand -shaped 

 fronds giving them a gracefully -pendent habit. These fronds are produced in 

 a cluster at the summit of a rootstock about the size of a hazel-nut and 

 profusely provided with roots along its sides. The number of fronds on one 

 rootstock is said by Garber to be sometimes more than a dozen, but usually 

 there are from three to six only. They are of a light green colour and 

 of a somewhat fleshy nature, and are borne on round, fleshy, flaccid stalks 

 6in. to 12in. long. Besides being hand-shaped, their leafy portion, 6in. to 

 12in. long and 4in. to Sin. broad, is wedge-shaped at the base, and, unlike 

 all others, more or less cut from the circumference towards the centre, 

 generally being deeply divided into a variable number of tongue-shaped 

 segments. The fructification is most singular : it is produced in small 

 spikes, forming miniature catkins about 2in. long, borne on peduncles (stalks) 

 a little shorter than themselves. These catkins are disposed from two to 

 twelve on the incurved edges of the frond, where it begins to widen from 

 the common stalk, sometimes on the stalk itself, and rarely on the upper 

 surface of the frond. Occasionally a fertile spike or its peduncle is forked. 

 These spikes are manifestly appendages of the frond, as Hofmeister considers 

 the spike of 0. vulgqtum to be, and not special fronds partly consolidated with 

 the barren lamina (blade). This singular species should be grown suspended 

 in a cool house. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 446. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, h\, p. 500. Eaton, Ferns of North America, ii., t. 81. 



O. (Ophioderma) pendulum — Oph-i-od-er'-ma ■ pen'-dul-um (drooping), 

 Linnwus. 



A thoroughly epiphytal, stove species, native of Polynesia, Ceylon, the 

 Philippines, and the Mascarene Islands, where it is found growing plentifully 

 on branches of trees, its curious barren fronds hanging gracefully down 

 to an almost indefinite length. These fronds are ribbon-like, without a 

 distinct stalk, and are said to measure sometimes 15ft. in length ; they are 

 lin. to oin. broad, simple or forked, and of a fleshy texture. The fertile 

 spike is usually solitary, rises from the middle of the lamina (blade), not far 



