64 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



lower leaflets are usually much the largest, and the leafits on the lower are 

 larger than those on the upper side. They are of a somewhat leathery texture, 

 smooth on both surfaces, and the narrow-oblong ultimate divisions have their 

 edges rolled in, thus hiding the spore masses, which are disposed in an 

 uninterrupted line along the margin.— Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 105. 



P. (Cheiloplecton) microphylla — Cheil-op-lec'-ton ; mi-croph-yl'-la 

 (small-leaved), Fee. 

 This small, stove species, native of Rio Janeiro, and also known as 

 P. Glaziovii, is of little decorative value. Its roundish fronds, seldom more 

 than Jin. long and borne on stalks |in. to ljin. long, are composed of five 

 blunt lobes, the central the longest, all of a somewhat leathery texture and 

 dull green colour. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 476. 



P. (Allosorus) mucronata— All-os-o'-rus ; mu-cro-na'-ta (sharply-pointed), 

 Eaton. 



This very pretty, greenhouse species, of medium size, also known under 

 the names of P. longimucronata and P. Wrightiana, is a native of Western 

 Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona ; it is also reported from Bolivia, 

 but Eaton, who, in his excellent work on "Ferns of North America," says 

 that it occurs mostly in exposed, rocky places, also states (ii., p. 6) that it is 

 " attributed also to California in ' Synopsis Filicum,' but probably through 

 some error, as I have seen no true Wrightiana from that state." Its interesting 

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

 to the midrib), oin. to 6in. long and lin. to 3in. broad, are produced from 

 a short, thick, knotted rootstock that is densely chaffy with very narrow scales 

 of a dark brown colour, and are borne on strong, erect, dark brown, polished 

 stalks 2in. to 4in. long. The leaflets of the barren fronds are almost stalkless, 

 roundish or egg-shaped, rounded or even somewhat heart-shaped at the base, 

 but provided with a minute, semi-transparent, sharp point, or mucro, at their 

 extremity. Those of the fertile fronds are rolled in nearly to the midveins 

 and therefore very narrow, often longer than the barren ones, curved upwards, 

 and terminate in a sharp, mucronate point. All are of a leathery texture and 

 of a pale glaucous-green colour on both surfaces. The sori (spore masses) 

 are completely hidden by the broad, leathery involucre, which is permanently 



