PTERIS. 



265 



P. brevisora — brev-is-o'-ra (having short sori), Baker. 



A robust-growing, stove species, native of the Cameroon Mountains and 

 Fernando Po, where it occurs at from 4000ft. to 7000ft. elevation. Its fronds, 

 which are borne on strong, erect stalks 2ft. to 4ft. long and quite smooth, are 

 composed of a terminal leaflet 1ft. to 2ft. long and 6in. to 9in. broad, and of 

 two opposite lateral ones, which are nearly as large. The pinnules (leafits), 

 4in. to 6in. long, are again divided into numerous segments, which are narrow- 

 oblong, blunt, and very slightly toothed ; they are of a soft, papery texture, 

 and the spore masses are disposed in a continuous line along the border 

 of each segment. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 162 ; Second Century of 

 Ferns, t. 59. 



P. calomelanos — cal-om-eF-an-os (beautiful black). The plant found in 

 gardens under this name is the same as Pellcea calomelanos. 



P. chilensis— chil-en'-sis (Chilian), Desvaux. 



This greenhouse species, of large dimensions and upright habit, is a native 

 of Chili and Juan Fernandez. It is closely related to P. tremula, from which 

 it is distinguished principally by the shape of its segments, w r hich are broader 

 and shorter, and also by its barren fronds, which are finely toothed. The 

 fronds are of a soft, papery or slightly leathery texture, and naked on both 

 surfaces, and the spore masses extend from the base to the extremity of the 

 segments. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 175, t. 120a. 



P. (Litobrochia) ciliaris — Li-tob-roch'-i-a ; cil-i-a'-ris (fringed), Eaton. 



A stove species, of medium dimensions, native of Cuba, with fronds 

 distinctly tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib) and borne on naked, 

 polished, straw-coloured or bright brown stalks about 1ft. long ; they are 9in. 

 to 12in. long and Gin. to 9in. broad, and their terminal leaflet is toothed when 

 barren. The lateral leaflets vary according to their position, the uppermost 

 pair being simple and the next forked at the base, while the lowest, about 2in. 

 apart, are broadly triangular, 2in. to Bin. each way, and furnished with leafits 

 having two segments on each side. The fronds are of a soft, papery texture, 

 and naked on both sides, and their spore masses do" not extend quite to the 

 extremity of the leafits. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 170. 



