POLYPODIUM. 



113 



to ljffc. broad, have their spear-shaped leaflets, Gin. to 10in. long and 2in. 

 broad, again divided into spear-shaped leafits, which are cut down nearly to 

 the rachis below into close, entire, blunt lobes, the whole being of a thin, 

 papery texture. The sori (spore masses) are small, abundant, and disposed 

 close to the midrib. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 251. 



P. (Niphobolus) Boothil— Mph-oV-ol-us ; Boo'-thi-i (Booth's), Hooker. 



A very robust, stove species, native of Bhotan, with fronds l£ft. to 2ft. 

 long, Bin. to 4in. broad, borne on firm, upright stalks 1ft. or more in 

 length and scaly at the base. These fronds are gradually narrowed towards 

 both ends and have their edge entire ; they are smooth on the upper surface, 

 whereas their under-side is thickly covered with a woolly substance of a rusty- 

 brown colour. The spore masses are disposed in two irregular rows. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 53. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 258. 



P. (Goniopteris) borneense — Go-m-op'-ter-is ; 

 bor-ne-en'-se (Bornean), Hooker. 

 A small, stove species, of little decorative value, 

 native of Borneo. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 11. 



P. (Goniophlebium) brasillense — Go-m-oph- 

 leV-i-um ; bras-il-i-en'-se (Brazilian), Poiret. 

 This stove species, also known under the name 

 of P. nerii folium, is a native of the West Indies, Mexico, 

 Brazil, and Peru. Its fronds, 1ft. to 3ft. long, 1ft. or 

 more in breadth, and borne on firm, glossy stalks 6in. 

 to 12in. long, are produced from a stout rhizome 

 densely clothed with spear-shaped scales of a peculiar 

 grey colour. They consist of an entire or slightly 

 sinuated terminal leaflet 4 in. to Sin. long and fin. to F & 37 - Pinna °f Poiypodium 

 ljili. broad, and of numerous lateral ones of a similar ,, . . , 



3 (i nat. size). 



nature, but slightly narrowed at the base, where they 



are attached to the midrib (Fig. 37), except the lowest, which are sometimes 

 stalked. The texture is leathery, and the spore masses, disposed in one or two 

 series between the midrib and the edge, are immersed in the frond. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 28. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, hi., p. 187. 



