POLYPODIUM. 



95 



scales are produced its sub-sessile (almost stalkless) fronds Gin. to 12in. long, 

 Jin. to ljin. broad, gradually narrowed to both ends, and with smooth edges ; 

 they are of a leathery texture, naked on the upper surface, but densely coated 

 underneath with a close, nearly white substance of a woolly nature, into 

 which the spore masses, of a particularly bright colour and spread over the 

 whole upper portion of the frond, are sunk. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 v., p. 45. 



P. . (Phymatodes) alatum— Phy-mat-o'-des ; al-a'-tum (winged), Hooker. 



This stove species, of medium dimensions, native of the Fiji Islands, 

 produces from a scaleless rhizome of a woody nature fronds ljft. to 2ft. long, 

 lOin. to 12in. broad, which are borne on firm, upright stalks 1ft. to ljft. 

 long ; they are cut down nearly to the midrib below, and within Jin. of it 

 above, into numerous narrow -oblong, sharp-pointed lobes 6in. to Sin. long 

 and lin. or more in breadth. The texture is soft and papery, and the fronds 

 are naked on both sides. The rather small and abundant sori (spore masses) 

 are disposed in rows of three or four near the main veins. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, v., p. 85. 



P. (Niphobolus) albicans — Mph-ob'-ol-us ; ar-bic-ans (whitish), Mettenius. 



A stove species, native of Java, producing from a stout rhizome, clothed 

 with somewhat large, spear-shaped, light-coloured scales, fronds 1ft. to 2ft. 

 long, lin. to 2in. broad, and borne on firm, upright, naked stalks 2in. to 4in. 

 long. They are gradually narrowed towards both ends, with smooth edges, and 

 are of a very leathery texture ; their upper surface is smooth, but their 

 under-side is densely clothed with a woolly substance of a pale rusty-brown 

 colour. The sori (spore masses) are disposed in close rows of three or four 

 each between the veins. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 51. 



P. albidulum — al-bid'-ul-um (slightly whitish), Baker. 



This greenhouse species, native of Rio Janeiro, is of tufted, close habit, 

 its pendulous, spear-shaped fronds, 4in. to 8in. long and Jin. to fin. broad, 

 being produced from a short, upright stem and borne on firm, slender, naked 

 stalks ljin. to 2in. long and of a grey colour. The fronds are of a somewhat 

 leathery texture, and are cut down to the midrib into strap -shaped leaflets 



