PTERIS. 



261 



P. a. lanuginosa — la-nu-gin-o'-sa (Avoolly), Bongard. 



A variety of a downy nature, said by Eaton to be common in the region 

 west of the Rocky Mountains, and to be especially luxuriant in Oregon and 

 Washington Territory. — Eaton, Ferns of North America, ii., t. 35. 



P. areolata — ar-e-ol-a'-ta (furnished with little cells). Synonymous with 

 P. undulata. 



P. arguta — ar-gu'-ta (sharply notched), Alton. 



This interesting, tall-growing, stove species is a native of Madeira, 

 St. Helena, the Canaries, the Azores, and Portugal. According to Lowe, it 

 was introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, as far back as 1778. Its ample 

 fronds, 1ft. to oft. long and 1ft. or more in breadth, are borne on strong, 

 upright, glossy stalks 1ft. or more in length, of a bright straw or reddish- 

 brown colour, with two narrow blackish bands. The terminal leaflet, Gin. 

 to 9in. long and ljin. to Sin. broad, is made up of numerous narrow, pointed 

 lobes, which reach down nearly to the rachis, and are slightly toothed when 

 barren. The lateral leaflets, of which there are several on each side, are similar 

 to the terminal one, but usually show on their lower side one or two leafits 

 (pinnules). The whole of the leafy portion is of a soft, papery texture, pale 

 green in colour, and naked- on both sides. The sori (spore masses), nearly 

 a^in. broad, do not usually extend beyond the lower half of the lobes. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, ii., p. 184. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iii., p. 241. 

 Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iii., t. 41. 



P. argyreea — ar-gyr-ae'-a (silvery). This very popular Fern is a form of 

 P. quadriaurita. 



P. ascensionis — as-cen-si-o'-nis (from Ascension Island). A variety of 

 P. flabellata. 



P. aspericaulis — as-per-ic-au'-lis (rough- stalked), Wallich. 



A very handsome, stove Fern, of dwarf and compact habit, native of India. 

 It produces from an upright rootstock fronds lfft. long and of a smooth, 

 glossy nature. These are composed of one terminal and two or three pairs 

 of lateral leaflets, the lowest pair being usually divided into two parts ; they 

 are almost stalkless and opposite, deeply cleft or even pinnate, with narrow 



