122 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



or decurved, blunt leaflets of a soft, papery texture. These fronds are borne 

 on short, tufted, slender stalks, clothed with soft, brown hairs. The sori 

 (spore masses) are disposed in a row on each side of and close to the 

 mid vein. The habitat of this species extends from Cuba and Guatemala to 

 Brazil and Peru ; it is also found in the Mauritius and at Fernando Po. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 190. 



P. (Dictyopteris) Cumingianum— Dic-ty-op'-ter-is • Cum-ing-i-a'-num 

 (Cuming's). Synonymous with P. macrodon. 



P. (Niphobolus) CUneatum — Mph-ob'-ol-us j cun-e-a'-tum (wedge- 

 shaped), Knhn. 



This is a stove species, of very small dimensions and little decorative 

 value, with barren and fertile fronds totally different in shape, produced from 

 a slender rhizome, and of a leathery texture. It is a native of Ecuador. — 

 Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 513. 



P. (Phymatodes) Cunninghami — Phy-mat-o'-des ; Cun-ning-ham'-i 

 (Cunningham's), Hooker. 

 A greenhouse species, of medium dimensions, native of New Zealand and 

 the New Hebrides, producing from a short-creeping rhizome clothed with large, 

 spear-shaped scales of a dull brown colour its simple (undivided) fronds Gin. 

 to 12in. long and about fin. broad. These fronds are of a leathery texture, 

 yet not rigid, and naked on both surfaces ; they are sharp-pointed at their 

 extremity, their edge is entire, and their widest part about half-way down, 

 from which they are gradually narrowed to the base or a short stalk. The 

 large and prominent sori (spore masses) are not immersed, either roundish or 

 oblong, and disposed in a row nearer the midrib than the edge. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 58 ; Icones Plantarum, t. 409. 



P. CUrvatum — cur-va'-tum (curved), Swartz. 



A stove species, of medium size, native of Jamaica, Ecuador, and Peru, 

 producing from a stout, scaly rhizome fronds 1ft. to ljft. long, 2 in. to 3in. 

 broad, and borne on dark brown stalks 3in. to 4in. long and of a naked, glossy 

 nature. The fronds, of a pendent habit, are cut down to the curved and 

 flexuous rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into close, narrow, notched leaflets 



