ACROSTICHUM. 



195 



8in. long and ljin. broad ; they are entire (uncut) and toothed, especially 

 towards the point. The fertile fronds are smaller, narrower, and bipinnate 

 (twice divided to the midrib). This species, of easy cultivation, is the same 

 as the one known under the name of Soromanes serratifolium (So-rom'-an-es 

 ser-ra-tif-oF-i-urn), Fee. See Fig. 24. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 256. 



A. conforme — con-for'-me (symmetrical), Swartz. 



This is a handsome, evergreen, stove species, of dwarf habit, with very 

 thick, shining fronds, produced from a creeping and scaly rhizome (prostrate 

 stem). The barren ones, which, contrary to the general rule, are narrower 

 than those bearing fructification, are of erect habit, from 6in. to 9in. long, 

 and are borne on short, erect, slightly scaly stalks. To this species — whose 

 habitat extends over a vast area, it being found in Mexico and Brazil, in the 

 Sandwich and Fiji Islands, on the Himalayas and the Neilgherries (where, 

 according to Beddome, it is very common on trees on the higher ranges), 

 at the Cape of Good Hope, &c. — many other kinds are closely related ; the 

 principal ones being A. laurifolium (laur-if-oF-i-um), A. marginatum (mar- 

 gin-a'-tum), and A. obtusifolium (ob-tu-sif-oF-i-um). — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 v., p. 198. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 19. Lowe, Ferns British 

 and Exotic, vii., t. 44. Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, t. 198. 



A. (Hymenodium) crinitum — Hym-en-o'-di-uin ; cri-nF-tum (hairy), 

 Linnceus. 



Of all stove Ferns in cultivation this West Indian species is undoubtedly 

 the most curious, as also, when well grown, one of the handsomest among 

 the numerous forms contained in the genus to which, notwithstanding its 

 peculiar appearance (which reminds one of anything but a Fern), it really 

 belongs. The name of Elephant's -ear Fern, under which it is commonly 

 known, conveys an idea of the extraordinary shape of its fronds ; they are 

 simple, entire (undivided), broadly oblong or of an elliptical shape, and 

 produced from a rhizome (prostrate stem) thick, decumbent (reclining on the 

 surface of the ground), of a woody nature, and densely covered with long, 

 black hairs, which are also found on both surfaces, and more abundantly on 

 the margins, of the barren fronds. These are of a leathery, yet succulent, 

 texture, and of a dull green colour ; when fully developed, they frequently 



