140 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



forked, are of a somewhat leathery texture, and their oblong, distant, oblique 

 spore masses are terminal on the principal veins. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 iv., p. 174. 



P. furfuraceum — fur-fur-a'-ce-um (scurfy), Schlechtendahl. 



A greenhouse species, of rigid habit and medium dimensions, native of 

 Mexico, with fronds 1ft. to lift, long, 2in. to 4in. broad, of a leathery texture, 

 and borne on rigid, scaly stalks 3in. to 4in. long. These fronds are produced 

 from strong rhizomes densely clothed with brown, woolly fibres, and are cut 

 down to the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into narrow, entire leaflets 

 dilated on both sides at the base. The sori (spore masses) are disposed in 

 two long rows. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 213. 



P. fuscatum — fus-ca'-tum (darkened), Blurne. 



This stove species, of small dimensions, is of very little decorative value. 

 Its fronds, seldom exceeding 6 in. long, are of a leathery texture ; the whole 

 of their under-surface is eventually filled with the sori (spore masses), which 

 are disposed in a close row on each side of the midrib. It is a native of 

 Java and Ceylon. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 181. Beddome, Ferns' 

 of British India, t. 324. 



P. (Phymatodes) fusco-punctatum — Phy-mat-o'-des • fus'-co-punc- 

 ta'-tum (brown-dotted), Hooker. 

 A greenhouse species, of small dimensions, native of Chimborazo. From 

 a wide-creeping rhizome of a woody nature, and clothed with bright brown 

 scales, are produced its almost stalkless fronds 6in. to 9in. long, very gradually 

 narrowed at the base, sharp -pointed at the extremity, and with edges entire • 

 they are of a somewhat leathery texture and naked on both sides, but show 

 abundant fine dark brown points. The large, dark-coloured spore masses 

 are disposed in one line along the mid vein. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., 

 p. 69, t. 285a. 



P. Galeottei — Gal-e-ot'-te-i (Galeotti's), Mettenius. 



This is a small-growing, greenhouse species, native of Mexico. It is of 

 botanical interest only, with small, elliptic fronds of a soft, papery texture and 

 slightly hairy on both surfaces. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 509. 



