POLYPODIUM. 



203 



rows extending from the midrib to the edge of the frond. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, v., p. 39. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 192. Lowe, 

 Ferns British and Exotic, ii., t. 9b. 



P. (Goniopteris) reptans — G-o-ni-op'-ter-is ; rep'-tans (creeping), 

 Swartz. 



This pretty and distinct, stove species, native of the West Indies, 

 Guatemala, and Brazil, is very variable. Its fronds, often decumbent and 

 rooting at their extremity, are borne on tufted, slender, wiry, naked stalks lin. 

 to 8in. long. The leafy portion, 4in. to 12in. long and lin. to 3in. broad, is 

 divided into leaflets Jin. to l^in. long, often eared at the base, the lower ones 

 being short- stalked. The texture is soft and papery, and the under-side is 

 naked or slightly hairy. The abundant sori (spore masses) are irregularly 

 scattered over the whole of the under- surface. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., 

 p. 6. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 193. Lowe, Ferns British 

 and Exotic, i., t. 34b. 



P. r. asplenioides — as-ple-ni-o-i'-des (Spleenwort-like), Link. 



A variety of larger dimensions and of more upright habit than the typical 

 species. 



P. rhodopleuron — rhod-op-leur'-on (red-veined). This is synonymous 

 with P. plesiosorum. 



P. rigescens — rig-es'-cens (stiff), Bory. 



A stove species, of small dimensions, native of Cuba, Chili, and Brazil, 

 also of Bourbon Island and Fernando Po. Its erect fronds, 6in. to 12in. long 

 and fin. or more in width, are produced from a stout- creeping rhizome 

 densely clothed with dull brown scales, and borne on wiry, naked or slightly 

 downy stalks lin. to 3in. long ; they are cut down to the rachis into close, 

 entire, blunt, narrow-oblong leaflets of a stifnsh texture, naked on both surfaces, 

 the under- side being sometimes glaucous (bluish-green). The sori (spore 

 masses) are disposed in rows of four or five on each side of the midvein. 

 P. firmum of Klotzsch is very closely related to this species. — Hooker and 

 Greville, Icones Filicum, t. 216. 



