146 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. (Phegopteris) hastaefolium— Phe-gop'-ter-is ; has-taB-fol'-i-um (spear - 

 fronded), Swartz. 



This strikingly distinct, small-growing, stove species, native of the West 

 Indies, is a very uncommon plant, although, according to Lowe, it was 

 introduced into English gardens in 1820. Its fronds, borne on tufted stalks 

 lin. to 2m. long and of a wiry nature, are 6in. to 9in. long, and broadest 

 two-thirds of the way up, where they sometimes measure 2in. across. The 

 blunt, entire leaflets show a sharp and distinct auricle (ear) on both sides at 

 the base, and those of the lower half of the frond are gradually reduced ; they 

 are of a dull green colour and of a somewhat leathery texture, and their 

 under-side is nearly naked. The comparatively large sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed in one row on each side of the midvein, and from ten to fourteen 

 pairs to each leaflet. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 232. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, hi., p. 189. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 ii., t. 55. 



P. (Phymatodes) hastatum — Phy-mat-o'-des • has-ta'-tum (halbert- 

 shaped), Thunberg. 



A curious and distinct, greenhouse species, of little decorative value, 

 having fronds sometimes simple, sometimes three-lobed, with the lateral lobes 

 like the terminal one but smaller, of a leathery texture, and naked on both 

 sides. The spore masses, disposed in a single row, are situated nearer the 

 midrib than the edge. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 74. 



P. (Phymatodes) hemionitideum— Phy-mat-o'-des ; he-mi-on-i-tid'-e-um 



(Hemionitis-like), Wallich. 

 According to Lowe, this curious and interesting, stove species was 

 introduced into the Ptoyal Gardens, Kew, in 1844, yet it is not commonly 

 met with. It is a native of South China and various parts of India, where 

 it is said to occur up to 6000ft. elevation. Beddome states that it is found 

 in Sampajee Ghat, four miles down from Mercara, in ravines, growing on 

 rocks. Its entire fronds, of a somewhat leathery, texture, borne on firm, erect 

 stalks lin. to 6in. long, are produced from a rhizome of a woody nature. 

 They are from 9in. to 18in. long, 2in. to 3in. broad, of a bright green colour, 

 and narrowed to both ends ; they are naked on both sides and are rendered 



