154 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



spear- shaped, and sharp-pointed lobe 2m. to 3in. long, Jin. or more in breadth, 

 and of two to four similar ones on each side ; they are of a firm texture and 

 naked on both sides. The small and abundant spore masses are irregularly 

 scattered. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 78. Beddome, Ferns of British 

 India, t. 214. 



P. integrifolium — in-teg-rif-ol'-i-iiln (entire-leaved), Lowe. 



A stove species, of unknown origin, closely related to P. irioides, from 

 which, however, it is readily distinguished by the hanging habit of its fronds, 

 which are sometimes forked at their extremity ; they are also of a less fleshy 

 nature and of a darker green colour than those of that species ; they are 

 frequently l£ft. long and 2in. broad in their widest part. The abundant and 

 very small spore masses are thickly scattered over the upper half of the 

 frond. — Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, ii., t. "27. 



P. (Phymatod.es) irioides — Phy-mat-o'-des ; i-ri-o-i'-des (Iris-like), 

 Lamarck. 



This singular-looking, erect-growing, stove species, which, according to 

 Lowe, was introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1824, is a native of 

 New South Wales, Natal, Angola, the Guinea Coast, &c. Its stalkless fronds, 

 produced from a stout rhizome clothed with dark brown, egg-shaped scales, 

 are from lft. to 3ft. long, lin. to 3in. broad, gradually narrowed to both ends, 

 and with edge entire ; they are of a thick, fleshy texture, pale or yellowish- 

 green in colour, and naked on both sides. The very small and copious sori 

 (spore masses) are irregularly scattered. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 67 ; 

 Filices Exoticce, t. 4. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, i., t. 42a. Beddome, 

 Ferns of Southern India, t. 178. 



P. (Dictyopteris) irregulare — Dic-ty-op'-ter-is ; ir-reg-ul-a'-re (irregular). 

 Synonymous with P. di forme. 



P. Jagorianum— Jag-or-i-a'-num (Jagor's), Mettenius. 



A stove species, of small dimensions and of little decorative value, but 

 interesting through the oblong spore masses having their sporangia armed 

 with a conspicuous bristle. It is a native of the Philippines. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 507. 



