160 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



are 6m. to 12in. long, narrowed at the base, and of a somewhat leathery 

 texture. The slightly-immersed spore masses are disposed in a row near the 

 midrib on each Bide.— Hooker, Species FiUcum, v., p. 91 ; Filices Exoiicw, 

 t. 25. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 190. Beddome, Ferns of 

 Southern India, t. 174. 



P. (Phymatodes) Lenormandi — Phy-maW-des ; Len-or-man'-di 

 (Lenormand's), Baker. 

 A stove species, native of Mount Mu, New Caledonia, with oblong, 

 simply-pinnate fronds lift, to 2ft. long, 1ft. broad, borne on grey stalks 6in. 

 to 9in. long and of a glossy nature. The strap-shaped, blunt, closely-set 

 leaflets are dilated at the base ; they are of a somewhat leathery texture, and 

 naked on both surfaces. The spore masses are disposed in a distant row near 

 the edge of the leaflets, in which they are deeply immersed, and upon the 

 upper surface of which they form nipple-like protuberances.— Hooker, Synopsis 

 FiUcum, p. 514. 



P. (Goniophlebium) lepidopteris— Go-m-oph-leb'-i-um • lep-id-op'-ter-is 



(scaly- winged), Kunze. 

 This stove species, native of Mexico, Peru, and Brazil, is very variable. 

 The original or commonest form is provided with a stout, wide-creeping 

 rhizome of a woody nature, densely clothed with -greyish scales. It has fronds 

 6in. to 18in. long, ljin. to Sin. broad, borne on rigid, erect, densely-scaly 

 stalks lin. to 4in. long, and cut down to the rachis into horizontal, entire 

 leaflets, the lower ones being reduced very gradually. Their texture is very 

 thick, and they are covered on both sides, the lower very thickly, with 

 rusty-coloured or white hairs and scales. The sori (spore masses), situated 

 on the upper half of the frond, are round, very large, of a yellowish-red 

 colour, and protrude through the scales. — Hooker, Species FiUcum, iv., p. 212. 



P. 1. rufulum — ru'-ful-um (reddish), Fresl. 



In this variety, which is of Mexican origin, the scales of the rhizome are 

 of a bright reddish-brown colour, and the leaflets, Jin. broad and blunt, are 

 much twisted. — Hooker, Synopsis FiUcum, p. 346. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 190. 



