POLYPODIUM. 



135 



to Baker, sometimes attains 30ft. in height. Its ample fronds are furnished 

 with strap-shaped leaflets 1ft. to ljft. long, sharp-pointed, and cut down to 

 a broad wing into close, bluntish, somewhat sickle-shaped lobes of a rigid 

 and leathery texture. The sori (spore masses) are disposed on all the veins, 

 which are very minute. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 504. 



P. exigimm — ex-ig'-u-um (little), Grisebach. 



A singular and pretty, stove species, native of Jamaica. Its fronds, 

 borne on tufted, thread-like, very short, naked stalks, are of a conspicuously 

 pendulous habit ; they vary between 6in. and 2ft. in length, but are seldom 

 more than ^in. in breadth. They are furnished with tiny leaflets, blunt, 

 entire, or with a single notch on the upper side, enlarged on both sides at 

 the base, of a somewhat leathery texture, and naked on both surfaces. The 

 sori (spore masses) are disposed one in each leaflet. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 326. 



P. fallax — fah-lax (deceptive), Schlechtendahl. 



A greenhouse species, of very small dimensions, seldom exceeding 2Jin. 

 high, with fronds often more than lin. apart on a long, thread-like rhizome. 

 It is of botanical value only, and is a native of Mexico. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, iv., p. 215. 



P. farinosum — far-i-no'-sum (mealy), Hooker. 



This is a scarce and very distinct, stove species, native of the Andes of 

 Ecuador. It differs from all other species through its pendent fronds, 4in. 

 to 5in. long, ljin. to 2in. broad, borne on short, flexuose stalks of a wiry 

 nature, being covered on both sides with white meal. The leaflets, lin. or 

 more in length, are blunt at their extremity and slightly undulated at the 

 edge ; they are of a somewhat leathery texture and produce spore masses in 

 abundance. — Hooker, Species Filicum, p. 223 ; Second Century of Ferns, t. 47. 



P. (Grammitis) fasciatum— Gram-mi'-tis ; fas-ci-a'-tum (band-shaped), 

 Mettenius. 



A stove species, of little decorative value, with leathery fronds 1ft. long, 

 undivided, and the oblong sori (spore masses) disposed in two rows, end to 

 end, close to the midrib. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 169. 



