POLYPODIUM. 



127 



P. (Phymatod.es) dilatatum — Phy-mat-o'-des ; di-la-ta'-tum (enlarged), 

 Wallich. 



A strong-growing, greenhouse species, native of Khasya, where, according 

 to Beddome, it is found at elevations varying between 4000ft. and 6000ft. ; 

 also of Malaysia, Moulmein, Samoa, &c. Its fronds, produced from a thick 

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

 brown colour, are borne on stalks 1ft. long, with a narrow, decurrent wing 

 reaching nearly down to the base. They are 1^-ft. to 3ft. long, 1ft. or more 

 in breadth, cut down nearly to the rachis into sharp-pointed, entire lobes 

 4in. to Sin. long, of a soft, papery texture, and naked on both sides. The 

 small and abundant sori (spore masses) are scattered irregularly, and frequently 

 become confluent. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 85. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, hi., p. 188. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 122. 



P. Dipteris — Dip'-ter-is (Dipteris), Blume. 



A very handsome and distinct, stove species, of robust habit, native of 

 the Moluccas, Polynesia, the Fiji Islands, &c. Although, so far as we are 

 aware, this beautiful plant has not been success- 

 fully grown in this country, it has been imported 

 several times, and is well known in the form of 

 dry specimens, under the name of Dipteris Hors- 

 jieldii. Its singular fronds, produced from a slender 

 rhizome of a wiry nature and borne on strong, 

 wiry stalks 3ft. to oft. long, are 1ft. to 3ft. long 

 and much broader, the main lobes reaching three- 

 quarters of the way down and having their edges 

 sharply toothed (Fig. 38 is reduced from Col. 

 Beddome's " Ferns of British India," by the kind 

 permission of the author). They are of a some- 

 what leathery texture, dark green on their upper OD , . 



J ' b 11 Fig. 38. Frond of Polypodium Dipteris 



surface, and of a peculiar glaucous or bluish colour (much reduced). 



underneath. The very small, pale yellow sori 



(spore masses) are irregularly scattered, but are especially plentiful near the 

 midveins, where they frequently become confluent. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 v., p. 99. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 321. 



