126 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



short, tufted, thread-like stalks clothed with soft, spreading hairs. The 

 broadly -oblong, blunt, entire leaflets are of a soft, papery texture and slightly 

 hairy on both sides ; they are alternate (not opposite) and about Jin. apart 

 in the centre of the frond. The spore masses are disposed close to the 

 midrib. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 335. 



P. (Grammitis) Deplanchei — Gram-mi'-tis ; Dep-lanch'-e-i (Deplanche's), 

 Baker, 



A stove species, of small dimensions, native of New Caledonia, producing 

 from a stout rhizome densely clothed with stiff, dark brown scales its stalkless 

 fronds, Gin. to 9in. long, Jin. broad, gradually narrowed to both ends, with 

 the edge entire or with a few conspicuous blunt teeth about the middle ; they 

 are of a very leathery texture and naked on both sides. The oblong, oblique, 

 immersed sori (spore masses) are disposed in close rows in the upper half of 

 the frond near the edge. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 322. 



P. (Phegopteris) Dianse — Phe-gop'-ter-is ; Di-a'-naa (Diana's). A 

 garden synonym of P. molle. 



P. (Phlebodium) dietyocallis— Phleb-o'-di-um ; dic-ty-oe-aF-lis (beauti- 

 fully netted). This is synonymous with P. decumanum. 



P. (Dictyopteris) difforme — Dic-ty-op'-ter-is ; dif-for'-me (deformed), 

 Blume. 



This strong-growing, stove species, which is better known in gardens 

 under the name of P. irregulare, is a native of Malaysia, &c. Its 

 ample fronds, 3ft. to 4ft. long and borne on tufted, erect stalks 1ft. or more 

 in length, are furnished with spear-shaped leaflets or with broad, blunt or 

 sickle-shaped lobes reaching half-way down to the rachis (stalk of the leafy 

 portion) ; the lower ones are often deltoid (in shape of the Greek delta, A), 

 several inches long, with their lower side prolonged and deeply cleft ; all 

 are of a somewhat leathery texture, naked on both sides. The very abundant 

 sori (spore masses) are irregularly scattered. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., 

 p. 101. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 188. Beddome, Ferns 

 of Southern India, t. 118. 



