208 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. (Phymatodes) saccatum — Phy-maW-des ; sac-ca'-tum (in a bag), 

 Lowe. 



This stove species, native of Java, is a distinct and very handsome Fern, 

 with pendulous fronds 2ft. to 2jft. long, cut down to a winged rachis into 

 spear-shaped, sharp-pointed leaflets Sin. to 10in. long and about ljin. broad ; 

 they are of a parchment-like texture, bright green, and shining. The spore 

 masses, disposed in a regular row on each side of the midveins, are deeply 

 immersed and form elevated tubercles on the upper side of the fronds. — Lowe, 

 Ferns British and Exotic, ii., t. 59. 



P. (Phymatodes) salicifolium — Phy-maW-des ; sal-ic-if-oF-i-um 

 (Willow-leaved). This is a variety of P. lycopodioides. 



P. (Phymatodes) samarense — Phy-maW-des ; sam-ar-en'-se (native of 

 Samar), Mettenius. 



This stove species, native of the Philippine Islands, has much the 

 appearance of a Niphobolus, through the dense coating of dirty-white down 

 over the under-surface of its leathery fronds, which are 1ft. to 2ft. long, £in. 

 to fin. broad, and quite entire. These fronds are produced from a wide- 

 creeping rhizome of a firm nature, and are borne on firm, erect stalks lin. 

 to 4in. long. The upper half of the fertile fronds is contracted, and the spore 

 masses occupy the entire surface of the contracted portion. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 356. 



P. samoense — sam-o-en'-se (from Samoa), Baker. 



A small-growing, stove species, with nearly stalkless, entire fronds 3in. 

 to 6in. long, bluntish at their summit, very gradually narrowed in their lower- 

 part, of a somewhat leathery texture, and almost naked on both surfaces. The, 

 small and numerous spore masses form an irregular, wavy line near the edge, 

 which is nearly entire. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 321. 



P. (Phegopteris) sandvicense — Phe-gop'-ter-is ; sand-vic-en'-se (from 

 the Sandwich Islands), Hooker and Arnott. 

 This stove species, of robust habit, native of the Sandwich and Society 

 Islands, has ample and much-divided fronds 3ft. or 4ft. long, 2ft. or more 

 in breadth, borne on stout, naked stalks 2ft. long and of a glossy nature. 



