166 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. longipinnulatum — long-ip-in-nul-a'-tum (having long pinnules, or 

 leafits), Fournier. 



Notwithstanding its specific name, this stove species, native of Mexico, 

 has fronds simply pinnate (only once divided to the midrib). They are spear- 

 shaped, 3ft. long, and 1ft. broad, and their leaflets, strap-shaped and Jin, broad, 

 are comparatively long, sharp-pointed at the extremity, and narrowed at the 

 base. Both surfaces are of a light green colour, and the spore masses are 

 round and yellowish.— Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 510. 



P. (Phymatodes) longlssimum— Phy-maW-des ; long-is'-sim-um (very 

 long), Blume. 



This stove species, of singular appearance and somewhat large dimensions, 

 lias a very wide range of habitat, being found in Northern India, on the 

 Neilgherries, in Malaysia, in the Philippines, and in Formosa. It is provided 

 with a wide-creeping rhizome, densely coated with large, egg-shaped, brown 

 scales, from which its fronds, borne on firm stalks of a glossy nature, are 

 produced. These fronds are 1ft. to 4ft, long, 6in. to 12in. broad, and cut 

 down very nearly to the rachis into numerous nearly entire lobes 4in. to Gin. 

 long, Hin. broad, of a leathery texture, and naked on both sides. The sori 

 (spore masses) are disposed in single rows near the midrib, and form distinct, 

 nipple-like protuberances on the upper surface.— Hooker, Species Filicum, v., 

 p. 80. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, hi., p. 190. Lowe, Ferns British 

 and Exotic, ii., t. 47. 



P. (Goniophlebium) loriceum — Go-ni-oph-leb'-i ■urn : lo-ri'-ce-um 

 (armour-clad), Linnceus. 

 The habitat of this stove species extends from Mexico and the West 

 Indies to Brazil and Chili. Its stout, wide-creeping rhizomes are very prettily 

 spotted, and produce fronds 1ft. to lift, long and 4in. to 6in. broad, having 

 nearly entire, sometimes sickle-shaped leaflets Sin. to 3in. long and enlarged 

 at the base on the upper side. The fronds are of a somewhat leathery texture, 

 usually naked on both sides, and the spore masses, of a pale yellow colour, 

 are disposed in either one or two rows on each side of the midvein. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 21. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, hi., p. 190. 

 Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, ii., t. 30. 



