124 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



Tahiti, and the Sandwich Islands. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 179. 

 Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, t. 238. 



P. (Phlebodium) decumanum— PhleW-di-um ; dec-um-a'-num (large), 



Willdenow. 



This stove species, of large dimensions, which, according to Lowe, was 

 introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1841, is closely allied to the 

 popular P. aureum, and is also known as P. dictyocallis. It is a native of 

 New Granada, Brazil, and Peru. The fronds, narrower and slenderer than 

 those of that popular species, are produced from a stout rhizome densely 

 clothed with soft, bright brownish scales, and borne on stout, upright stalks 

 lft. to 2ft. long and of a glossy nature. The fronds themselves, 1ft. to 3ft. 

 long and lft. to 2ft. broad, are cut down nearly, or below quite, to the rachis 

 (stalk of the leafy portion) into nearly entire, strap-shaped leaflets often lft. 

 long, 2in. to Sin. broad, of a soft, papery texture and pale green colour, and 

 beautifully veined. The sori (spore masses) are disposed in one row on each 

 side of the midvein and immersed in the frond. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., 

 p. 17. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 188. Lowe, Ferns British 

 and Exotic, ii., t. 14. 



P. (Campyloneuron) decurrens — Camp-yl-on-eur'-on ; de-cur'-rens 

 (decurrent, attached to the stalk), Raddi. 

 This interesting, stove Fern, of large dimensions, native of Brazil and 

 Peru, is a striking object on account of the distinct and prominent marking 

 of the veins of its fronds. According to Lowe, it was introduced into the 

 Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1841. Its fronds, of a somewhat erect habit and 

 borne on firm, naked stalks 6in. to 12in. long, are produced from rather 

 slender rhizomes of a wiry nature. They are 2ft. to 3ft. long, ljft. to 2ft. 

 broad, and furnished with sharp -pointed, spear-shaped leaflets 8in. to 12in. long, 

 narrowed at the base, where they run along the rachis ; these leaflets are of 

 a somewhat leathery texture, of a dark green colour, and have nearly entire 

 edges. The sori (spore masses), of a peculiar pale straw-colour, are disposed 

 midway between the midrib and the edge. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 42. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 188. Lowe, Ferns British and 

 Exotic, ii., t. 4. 



