POLYPODIUM. 



125 



P. (Phegopteris) decussatum — Phe-gop'-ter-is ; dec-us-sa'-tum (cross- 

 leaved), Linnaeus. 



A very robust-growing, stove species, native of the West Indies, Peru, 

 and Brazil, with fronds 3ft. to 4ft. long, 1ft. to ljft. broad, borne on stout, 

 erect stalks 2ft. to 3ft. long, scaly towards the base, polished upwards, 

 sometimes slightly rough with short points. They are furnished with leaflets 

 Sin. to 12in. long, lin. to ljin. broad, cut down nearly or quite to the rachis 

 into close, spreading, entire lobes, showing a distinct gland at the base beneath. 

 The substance of the frond is thin, and densely but minutely pubescent. The 

 abundant and very minute sori (spore masses) are disposed in rows near the 

 midrib. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 244. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 188. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, ii., t. 54. 



P. (Phegopteris) deflexum — Phe-gop'-ter-is ; de-flex'-um (bent down). 

 Baker. 



This stove species, of medium dimensions, native of New Granada, was, 

 according to Lowe, introduced into England in 1830. It is a plant of 

 graceful habit, with fronds Sin. to 12in. long, 2in. broad, borne on naked, 

 slender stalks 2in. to 3in. long. They are furnished with sharp-pointed, 

 spear-shaped leaflets, the lower ones bent down, very distant, and dwindling 

 to mere auricles • these are of a soft texture and of a heavy, dull green 

 colour. The prominent, pale-coloured sori (spore masses) are disposed nearer 

 the midrib than the edge. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 305. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 188. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, i., t. 45. 



P. delicatllllim — de-lic-a'-tul-um (somewhat delicate), Mertens and Galeotti. 



A small-growing, stove species, native of Mexico and Ecuador, with pinnate 

 fronds 4in. to Bin. long, barely Jiii. broad, produced from a wide-creeping 

 rhizome, and borne on tufted, wiry stalks lin. to Sin. long and densely 

 clothed with long, soft hairs. The abundant sori (spore masses) are disposed, 

 six to eight to a leaflet, in which they are partly immersed. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, iv., p. 184. 



P. dependens — cle-pen'-dens (hanging down), Baker. 



This stove species, native of the Andes of Ecuador, has fronds of a pendent 

 habit and flaccid texture, 2ft. or more in length, barely fin. broad, borne on 



