POLYPODIUM. 



129 



P. (Goniopteris) diversifolium — Go-ni-op'-ter-is ; di-ver-sif-or-i-um 

 (various -leaved), Swartz. 

 This stove species, native of Brazil, Caraccas, and Ecuador, must not be 

 confounded with P. diversifolium of R. Brown, which is only a synonym of 

 P. rigidulum. Its simply -pinnate fronds, 1ft. to 2ft. long, 6in. to 9in. broad, 

 and borne on tufted, slender, naked stalks lft. to 2ft. long, are furnished with 



Fig. 39. Pinna of Polypodium diversifolium 

 (nafc. size). 



long, narrow leaflets seldom more than lin. broad, with the edge nearly entire 

 or slightly undulated. They are of a somewhat leathery texture, very prettily 

 veined, and their sori (spore masses) are disposed in a row on each side of and 

 close to the midrib (Fig. 39). — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 4. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 189. 



P. (Phegopteris) drepanum — Phe-gop'-ter-is ; drep'-an-um (sickle- 

 like), Hooker. 

 A very handsome, greenhouse 

 species, native of Madeira, with fronds 

 l^ft. to 3ft. long, Sin. to 12in. broad, 

 produced from a short, upright stem, 

 and borne on tufted stalks, which are 

 lft. to ljft. long and densely clothed 

 with dark-coloured scales at their 

 base. The lowest leaflets, which are 

 also the largest, often measure Sin. in 

 length and oin. in breadth ; the leafits 

 are spear-shaped, unequal- sided, con- 

 spicuously eared on the upper side, and truncate (maimed) on the lower side 

 at the base, with a broad, uncut centre and numerous teeth. The fronds 

 are of a leathery texture, with both sides nearly naked. The very prominent 



Fig. 40. Portion of Pinna of Polypodium drepanum 

 (nat. size). 



