286 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



extremity of the lobes. P. tripartita is another name for this species. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 226, t. 138b. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 243. Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, t. 220. 



P. moluceana— mol-uc-ca'-na (Moluccan), Blume. 



This strong-growing, stove species, native of Malaysia, is a very distinct 

 and ornamental Fern. Its ample fronds, borne on strong, polished, dark brown 

 stalks, are 2ft. to 3ft. long, elegantly pendulous, and once divided to the 

 midrib into numerous leaflets, which are disposed in opposite pairs. They are 

 lft. to l£ft. long, £m. to fin. broad, wedge-shaped at the base, and finely 

 toothed towards their point ; their texture is somewhat leathery, their colour 

 bright green on both surfaces, and they are of a shining nature. The spore 

 masses are covered by a narrow involucre of a parchment-like texture. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 158, t. 112b. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 243. 



P. mutilata — mut-il-a'-ta (mutilated), Linnams. 



This stove species, native of the West Indian Islands, is very distinct. 

 Its fronds, either barren or fertile, are deltoid (in shape of the Greek delta, A), 

 about 6in. each way, with a narrow, entire point and several entire leaflets 

 cut into narrow leafits on each side. The barren fronds are borne on slender, 

 naked, straw-coloured stalks oin. to Gin. long ; while the stalks of the fertile 

 ones are stouter and 9in. to 12in. long. The divisions of the barren fronds 

 are shorter and broader than those of the fertile ones, not toothed, but abruptly 

 pointed at their extremity, and furnished with a crisp, white border of a tough, 

 gristly nature. Both kinds are naked and shining on both surfaces. The 

 spore masses are covered by a narrow, parchment-like involucre. — Hooker, 

 SjJecies Filicum, ii., p. 164, t. 131a. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 iii., p. 243. 



P. m. COncinna — con-cin'-na (neat), Heward. 



In this variety the fronds are more compound than is usually the case in 

 the typical species. 



P. nemoralis — nem-or-a'-lis (grove- loving). According to Baker, the plant 

 known in gardens under this name is not distinct from P. biaurita. 



