PELLAHA. 



59 



pinnate, with two or three pairs of blunt segments, the edges of which are 

 strongly revolute (turned back) and of a leathery texture. The sori (spore 

 masses) are covered with a persistent involucre of a firm, crisp nature, with 

 close indentations. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 477. 



P. (Platyloma) flexuosa — Plat-yl-o'-nia ; flex-u-o'-sa (zigzag-bending). 

 A variety of P. cordata. 



P. (Cheiloplecton) Fournieri— Cheil-op-lec'-ton ; Four-m-e'-ri (Four- 

 nier's), Baker. 



This stove species, native of Mexico, is of small dimensions. Its fronds, 

 deltoid and bipinnate (in shape of the Greek delta, A, and twice divided to 

 the midrib), are about 6 in. each way, and borne on short, roundish, pale- 

 coloured stalks clothed with sharp-pointed scales of a tawny colour. The 

 stalked leaflets are alternate, the lowest, which are also the largest, being 

 usually 3in. long ; their leafits, which are attached to the rachis by a broad 

 base, are distant and sharp -pointed, smooth on their upper surface, and hairy 

 on their under-side. The sori (spore masses), disposed in a continuous, 

 marginal line, are covered by a smooth involucre of a peculiarly wrinkled 

 nature. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 476. 



P. (Cheiloplecton) geranisefolia— Cheil-op-lec'-ton ; ger-an-i-ee-fol'-l-a 

 (Geranium-leaved), Fee. 

 A greenhouse species, which, according to Kunze, was introduced into 

 this country so far back as 1816 ; according to Lowe, it was cultivated 

 in the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1838. It has a very extensive range of 

 habitat, being found in Tropical America, from Guatemala southward to Brazil 

 and Peru ; in Polynesia, from New Caledonia northward to the Neilgherries, 

 North China, and Sub-tropical Australia, the Mascarene Islands, Zambesi 

 Land, Angola, and Cape Colony. Although of small dimensions, this pretty 

 Fern is extensively used as a decorative plant. Its fronds, in shape of the 

 Greek delta, A, 2in. to 4in. each way, and borne on erect, wiry, polished 

 stalks 6in. to 9in. long and slightly scaly towards the base, are cut down 

 nearly to the rachis into three or four leaflets on each side, of which the 

 lowest pair is much the largest. The leafits on the lower side are much 

 larger than the others and are deeply lobed (see Plate), with narrow- 



