POLYPODIUM. 



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P. ambigrmm — am-big'-u-um (ambiguous), Mettenius. 



A stove species, of medium dimensions, native of Venezuela, and somewhat 

 resembling the better-known P. subpetiolatum. It produces from a densely- 

 scaly, wide-creeping rhizome, Jin, thick, its spear-shaped fronds 1ft. to ljft. 

 long, 4in. to 5in. broad, furnished with numerous leaflets of a parchment-like 

 texture, narrowed to a point, equal at the base, and entire ; they are of a 

 bright green colour and finely downy. The copious and conspicuous sori 

 (spore masses) are closely set near to the midrib. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, 

 p. 510. 



P. (Niphobolus) americanum — Niph-oV-ol-us ; am-er-ic-a'-num 

 (American), Hooker. 

 According to Hooker and Baker, this is the only American species of 

 Niphobolus. It is a robust-growing, stove species, of large dimensions, native 

 of the Andes of Ecuador. The very thick rhizome, clothed with large, grey 

 scales, bears, on strong, erect stalks lin. to 4iil. long, fronds 1-Jft. to 2 ft. long, 

 §in. to fin. broad, very gradually narrowed downwards, and with reflexed 

 edges ; they are of a very leathery texture, and their upper surface, woolly 

 when young, is naked, bright green, and pitted when mature, while their 

 under-surface is densely coated with a loose, woolly substance of a dirty-white 

 colour. The large and immersed sori (spore masses) are disposed in single, 

 oblique rows of four between the midrib and the edge. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, v., p. 54. 



P. (Goniophlebium) amoenum — Go-m-oph-leb'-j-um ; am-ce'-num 

 (pleasing) , Wallich. 

 A greenhouse species, of medium size, native of Nepaul, Khasya, Bhotan, 

 and Kumaon, where, according to Beddome, it is found growing at elevations 

 varying between 6000ft. and 10,000ft. Its fronds, 1ft. to 2ft, long and Gin. 

 to 12in. broad, are produced from a stout rhizome densely clothed with scales 

 of a dull brown colour, and borne on firm, erect, naked stalks 6in. to 12in. 

 long ; they are cut down nearly to the rachis into numerous entire or 

 slightly-toothed leaflets 3in. to Gin. long, of a papery yet firm texture, 

 and the spore masses are disposed in a single series. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, v., p. 24. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 5. 



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