POLYPODIUM. 



175 



lower part is cut down nearly to the midrib into oblong, blunt, entire lobes, 

 while their upper portion is furnished with numerous close leaflets 4in. to 6in. 

 long. The fertile part of the frond, which usually extends about one-third 

 of its length, consists of narrow leaflets, having the appearance of a firm midrib 

 with a row of small, round lobes on both sides, each bearing a bright yellow 

 spore mass that covers it. This fructification hangs out so prominently that 

 it gives the plant quite the appearance of what is commonly called a " flowering 

 Fern" (Fig. 51). In gardens this curious and beautiful species is sometimes 

 met with under the names of Aglaomorpha Meyeniana and of Drynaria 

 pliilip'pinense . — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 94. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iv., p. 592. 



As a rule, the Bear's-paw Fern is a difficult plant to manage in pots, but 

 it thrives apace when treated like a Platycerium — grown either on a stump, in 

 a shallow pan, or in a hanging basket. Care should be taken not to bury its 

 rhizomes. The soil should be pure fibrous peat, on which the rhizomes should 

 at first be pegged down, free scope being allowed for their extension. Grown 

 in that way, it soon repays any extra trouble bestowed on its culture. 



P. millefolium — mil-lef-ol'-i-um (having many fronds), Blume. 



A much-divided, stove species, of small dimensions, native of Java, with 

 fronds Sin. long and l|in. broad, borne on stalks lin. to Sin. long and clothed 

 with spreading, rusty -coloured hairs. The leaflets, fin. long and broadly 

 spear-shaped, are cut down to the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into 

 narrow-oblong or spoon-shaped leafits, which are Jin. long and toothed or 

 deeply notched. The fronds are of a firm and somewhat leathery texture, 

 with their under- surface slightly hairy and- their spore masses one to each 

 leant. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 339. 



P. minutum — min-u'-tum (small), Blume. 



A small-growing, stove species, native of Ceylon and the Malayan and 

 Philippine Islands. It has flaccid, pendulous fronds 4in. to Gin. long and Jin. 

 to fin. broad, borne on tufted stalks 2in. to 3in. long and clothed with soft, 

 yellowish hairs. The leaflets are barely Jin. broad, blunt, slightly notched, 

 and closely set, the lower ones being reduced ; they are of a soft, papery 

 texture, clothed on both sides with soft, yellowish hairs, and the spore masses 



