PTERIS. 



285 



P. marattisefolia — mar-at-tT-se-fol'-i-a (Marattia-leaved), Hooker. 



A very distinct, stove species, native of Chili and Chiloe, with ample, 

 bi pinnate fronds borne on stout, erect, four-angled, straw-coloured, glossy 

 stalks. Their upper portion is only once divided into several narrow lobes 

 prominently toothed towards the base. The lower leaflets, 6in. to 12in. long, 

 are pinnate, being furnished with similar lobes on both sides and again 

 compound with smaller leafits on both sides at the base. The texture of the 

 fronds is somewhat leathery, and they are naked on both surfaces. The spore 

 masses fall short of the extremity of the leafits. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., 

 p. 177, t. 122b. . 



P. (Litobrochia) marginata — Li-tob-roch'-i-a • mar-gin-a'-ta (margined), 

 Bory. 



A strong-growing, stove species, native of Malaysia, the Philippine Islands, 

 Mauritius, West Tropical Africa, &c. Its fronds are borne on strong, upright, 

 naked, brownish or straw-coloured, polished stalks 1ft. or more in length ; 

 they are composed of a terminal leaflet 6in. to 9in. long and Jin. to lin. 

 broad, cut down nearly to the midrib into numerous closely-placed lobes on 

 each side, which are very slightly toothed when barren, and of numerous 

 lateral leaflets also closely set. These fronds are naked on both surfaces, and 

 are of a soft, papery texture, with the spore masses falling rather short of the 

 point of the leaflets. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 225. 



P. (Campteria) maxima — Camp-te'-n-a ; max'-im-a (greatest), Baker. 



A strong- growing Fern, of little decorative value, and which Baker 

 considers as scarcely more than a variety of P. biaurita. It is a native of 

 the Isle of Mayotte. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 480. 



P. (Litobrochia) Milneana — Li-tob-roch'-I-a ; Mil-ne-a'-na (Milne's), Baker. 



This robust, stove species, native of Fiji and the Solomon Islands, 

 somewhat resembles P. quadriaurita in habit. Its fronds, 2ft. to 3ft. long, 

 are borne on strong, upright, yellowish-brown, polished stalks ; they are 

 furnished on each side with numerous leaflets, which are cut down throughout 

 nearly to the rachis into narrow- oblong, sickle-shaped lobes, with a similar 

 but smaller one at the base on the lower side, all being of a soft, papery 

 texture, and naked on both sides. The spore masses fall short of the 



