182 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. (Goniopteris) oligophlebium— Go-m-op'-ter-is ; ol-ig-oph-leb'-i-ura 



(having few veins), Baker. 



A stove species, of medium dimensions and of little decorative value, 

 native of the Andes of East Peru. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 506. 



P. (Goniopteris) oppositifolium— Go-m-op'-ter-is ; op-pos-it-if-oF-i-um 



(having opposite leaves), Hooker. 

 This stove species, native of the Island of St. Thomas, West Africa, is of 

 very large dimensions. Its fronds, 3ft. to oft. long and 1ft. to lift, broad, 

 are borne on upright stalks 2ft. to 2£ft. long, and furnished with leaflets 6in. 

 to 9in. long, liri. broad, gradually narrowed from the base to the sharp-pointed 

 extremity, and with the edge cut into somewhat sharp, sickle-shaped lobes. 

 These leaflets are regularly opposite and of a somewhat leathery texture, and 

 the small and abundant spore masses are disposed in a row on each side of 

 the mid vein. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 8. 



P. organense— or-gan-en'-se (from the Organ Mountains), Mettenius. 



A dwarf-growing, greenhouse species, native of the Organ Mountains, in 

 Brazil, with fronds Gin. to Sin. long and barely Jin. broad, cut down about 

 half-way to the rachis into close, oblong, blunt lobes of a somewhat leathery 

 texture, naked on both sides, and with the lower part very gradually narrowed. 

 The abundant oblong spore masses are placed one at the base of each lobe, 

 ultimately becoming confluent and forming two long rows close to the midrib. 

 — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 177 ; Icones Plantarum, t. 509. 



P. ornatum — or-na'-tum (adorned), Wallich. 



This very handsome, robust-growing, stove species, which in Hooker's 

 " Synopsis Filicum " is given as synonymous with Nephr odium setigerum, is 

 considered by Beddome to be of specific rank, being distinguishable from that 

 species by its upright rootstock and the constant absence of an involucre. 

 The latter authority also states that P. ornatum is abundant in Carcoor Ghat, 

 and is one of the handsomest Ferns in the Madras Presidency. — Beddome, 

 Ferns of Southern India, t. 171. 



P. Otites — O-tF-tes (Otites). This is synonymous with P. tenuifolium. 



