344 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



sharp point above, and below to the base or a short stalk. They are of 

 a somewhat leathery texture and of a flaccid nature, with a distinct midrib. 



The spore masses are sunk in a groove a short distance from the edge. 



Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 187. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 



iv. , p. 4. 



T. blechnoides— blech-no-i'-des (Blechnum-like), Swartz. 



In this very distinct species, native of Malaysia and the Philippine 

 Islands, the fronds, produced from a creeping rhizome, are borne on firm, 

 naked, glossy stalks Sin. to 12in. long. They are simply pinnate (only once 

 divided to the midrib), 1ft. to 2ft. long, Sin. to 12in. broad, and provided 

 with leaflets 6in. to 9in. long, lin. to 2in. broad, oblong-spear-shaped, sharp- 

 pointed, with the edge thickened and wavy, and wedge-shaped at the base. 

 The fertile leaflets, which are narrower, are also the more numerous. All 

 are of a leathery texture and have their spore masses disposed in a continuous 

 line about midway between the edge and the midrib.— Hooker, Sjoecies Filicum, 



v. , p. 188. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 4. 



T. b. interrupta— -in-ter-rup'-ta (interrupted), Wallich. 



A variety readily distinguished from the foregoing species by its smaller 

 leaflets and especially by the disposition of its spore masses, which form an 

 interrupted line much nearer the edge. — Hooker and Greville, Icones Filicum, 

 t. 63. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 4. 



T. furcata— fur-ca'-ta (forked), Willdenow. 



According to Nicholson, this West Indian species was introduced as 

 far back as 1824. Its fronds, Bin. to ISin. long, are produced from 

 a somewhat creeping rhizome of a densely woolly nature. They are once 

 or twice forked and furnished with long, narrow, spreading, entire, sharp- 

 pointed lobes 4in. to Sin. long and about ^in. broad. These lobes are of 

 a leathery texture, smooth on the upper surface, while their under-side is 

 thinly clothed with minute scales. The spore masses are irregularly disposed, 

 close to the margin, in either a continuous or an interrupted line. This and 

 T. blechnoides are the only two known species with divided fronds. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum., v., p. 188. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 4. 



