294 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. (Paesia) SCaberula— FsBs'-i-a ; scab-er'-ui-a (slightly rough), Richard. 



This exceedingly pretty, compact-growing, greenhouse species, native of 

 New Zealand, is of such totally distinct appearance that, to the casual observer, 

 it appears much more like a finely-cut Davallia than a Pteris. The plant is 

 provided with wide-creeping rhizomes of a wiry nature, from which its spear- 

 shaped and finely-divided fronds, borne on 

 somewhat rough stalks 6in. to 12in. long, are 

 produced. These fronds are tri- or quadri- 

 pinnatifid (three or four times divided nearly 

 to the midrib), lft. to IJft. long, and 6in. to 

 9in. broad ; their lower leaflets are cut down 

 to the rachis into numerous leafits on each 

 side (Fig. 83), which are again cut down into 

 oblong, toothed segments of a somewhat leathery 

 texture and of a pleasing pale green colour. The abundant spore masses 

 occupy, when mature, nearly the whole of the fertile segments, except the 

 midrib. — Hooker, Species Filicum, it., p. 174, t. 93a. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, hi., p. 244. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iv., t. 10. 



Fig. 83. Pinna of Pteris scaherula 

 (J nat. size). 



P. scabra — scab'-ra (rough), Bory. 



A stove species, which, although very distinct, is of little decorative value. 

 Its fronds, 2ft. or more in length and lft. to ljft. broad, are borne on strong, 

 upright, dark chestnut-brown, glossy stalks lft. to 2ft. long • they are 

 composed of a terminal leaflet and several pairs of lateral ones, of such 

 a leathery texture that the specimens can scarcely be fastened down on 

 paper. It is a native of Mauritius and Bourbon. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 ii., p. 187, t. 138a. 



P. semipinnata — se-mip-in-na'-ta (half-pinnate), Linneeus. 



This singular-looking, upright, greenhouse species, of medium dimensions, 

 is a native of Hong-Kong, Japan, the Philippine Islands, and Borneo, and is 

 also found on the Himalayas at an elevation of 4000ft. Its curious, broadly 

 spear-shaped fronds, lft. to ljft. long and Gin. to 9in. broad, are of a peculiarly 

 upright habit and borne on strong, erect, bright chestnut-brown, shining stalks 

 lft. or more in length. Their upper part is cut down nearly to the rachis 



