120 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. (Phymatodes) crassifolium— Phy-mat-o'-des ; cras-sif-ol'-i-um (thick- 

 leaved), Linnceus. 



The range of habitat of this singular-looking, stove species extends from 

 the West Indies and Mexico to Brazil and Peru, where it is said to be 

 common. Its simple (undivided) fronds, 1ft. to 3ft. long, lin. to 5in. broad, 

 gradually narrowed to both ends, and with the edge entire, are borne on 

 strong, upright stalks Sin. to 6in. long, and produced from a short-creeping 

 rhizome of a woody nature, clothed with egg-shaped scales of a dull brown 

 colour They are of a very leathery texture, and their upper surface shows 

 a few scattered, small, white dots. The spore masses are disposed in single 

 rows between the main veins. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 62. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, hi., p. 188. 



P. C. albo-punctatissimum — al-bo-punc-ta-tis'-sim-um (much dotted 

 with white), J. Smith. 

 This form of the above species, which is very variable, was, according to 

 Lowe, introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1842. It is readily 

 distinguished from the species through the glaucous colour of its fronds, the 

 upper surface of which is covered with small, white dots. — Lowe, Ferns 

 British and Exotic, i., t. 36. 



P. crassifrons— cras'-sif-rons (thick-fronded), Baker. 



A small -growing, stove species, of little decorative value, with undivided 

 fronds barely Gin. long, Jin. broad, and of a very thick texture. It is a native 

 of New Caledonia. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 325. 



P. (Phymatodes) crassinervium — Phy-mat-o'-des • cras-sin-er'-vi-um 

 (thickly-nerved). This is synonymous with F. platyphyllum. 



P. (GoniopteHs) crenatum — Go-m-op'-ter-is ; cre-na'-tum (scalloped), 

 Swartz. 



This very handsome, stove species, which, according to Lowe, was 

 introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1835, is a native of the West 

 Indies, St. Domingo, Martinique, &c. Its simply-pinnate fronds, of an 

 evergreen nature, and borne on erect, naked or slightly hairy stalks 1ft. to 2ft. 

 long, are 1ft. to 2ft. long, 1ft. or more in breadth, and composed of an oblong- 



