ACROSTICHUM. 



193 



A. (Olfersia) cervinum — Ol-fer'-sT-a ; cer-vi'-num (stag-horn-like), Swartz. 



In this truly handsome, stove species, whose habitat extends from Cuba 

 and Mexico to South Brazil and Peru, the barren and fertile fronds are 

 entirely dissimilar. The former, simply pinnate (divided to the midrib), 

 are produced in great abundance from a creeping rhizome (prostrate stem) 

 of a woody nature, and thickly covered with shining light brown scales ; they 

 are borne on stalks 1ft. or more long, densely clothed with scales similar to 

 those covering the rhizome • they are of a weeping habit, and measure from 

 3ft. to 4ft. long, while their pinna? (leaflets), entire (undivided) or nearly so, 

 of a coriaceous (leathery) texture, and pale shining green in colour, are from 

 6in. to 9in. long and frequently 2in. broad, and unequal at the base. The 

 fertile fronds are bipinnate (twice pinnate), with pinna; linear (considerably 

 longer than broad), distant, and furnished with short, spreading pinnules 

 (leafits), entirely covered with sporangia (spore-cases). Sec Fig. 23. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 254. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 19. 

 Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, vii., tt. 39, 40. 



A. Ciliatum — cil-i-a'-tuin (fringed with hairs), Presl. 



A greenhouse, Peruvian species, of little decorative value. It has barren 

 fronds 1ft. to lift, long, and smaller fertile fronds, which, however, are borne 

 on longer stalks than the barren ones. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 406. 



A. cinnamomeum — cin-nam-o'-me-um (cinnamon-coloured), Baker. 



The fertile fronds of this greenhouse species, native of the Cameroon 

 Mountains and Fernando Po, are seldom more than lOin. long, including the 

 stalks on which they are borne, and which are densely covered with rough 

 scales of a bright brown colour. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 409. 



A. (Soromanes) Coenopteris — So-roru'-an-es ; Ccen-op'-ter-is (Coenop- 

 teris), Kunze. 



This strong -growing, Mexican species, which, although more luxuriant 

 under stove treatment, may be successfully cultivated in the greenhouse, is 

 better adapted for growing on partly-decayed branches of trees than for making 

 pot -specimens. Its rhizomes (prostrate stems), of a woody nature, and densely 

 clothed with long, narrow, rusty -coloured scales, soon take possession of either 



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