206 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



and 3in. to 4in. broad, of a very coriaceous (leathery) texture, are simple 

 (without distinct ramifications), and terminate in a point, while their lower 

 part is narrowed gradually. They are borne on firm, erect, stramineous 

 (straw-coloured) stipes (stalks), naked or slightly scaly. The fertile fronds, 

 of similar shape, are considerably narrower than the barren ones, but both 

 are produced from a thick, creeping rhizome (prostrate stem), of a woody 

 nature, furnished with lanceolate (spear-shaped), crisped scales, of a light 

 brown colour. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 202. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 19. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, viL, t. 51. 



A. (Stenochlsena) laurifolium — Sten-och-W-na • laur-if-ol'-i-um (Laurel- 

 leaved), Hooker. 



This handsome, stove species, native of the Philippines and the Solomon 

 Islands, must not be confounded with Du Petit Thouars' A. laurifolium, figured 

 in Lowe's " Ferns, British and Exotic," vii., t. 59. This latter plant, with 

 simple (undivided) fronds of small dimensions, is now admitted as a simple 

 form of A. conforme (con-for'-me) of Swartz, previously described. Hooker's 

 A. laurifolium, on the contrary, is a Fern of somewhat gigantic growth and 

 of great decorative value, with fronds pinnate (divided to the midrib), and 

 reaching 3ft. in length by about l-^ffc. in breadth. Its barren pinna? (leaflets), 

 of a leathery texture, are from 6in. to 9in. long, and fully l^in. broad ; they 

 are gradually narrowed from their heart-shaped base to their extremity, and 

 have a sharply- but finely-toothed edge. The fertile pinna? are a little longer 

 than the barren ones, but seldom more than Jin. in breadth, the lower ones 

 being from lin. to 2in. apart. It bears a certain resemblance to the more 

 popular A. (Stenochlama) scandens (scan'-dens), but is of larger dimensions, 

 and its pinna? are not articulated (jointed). The greatest difference, however, 

 is found in its habit, as its fronds are produced from a firm, erect, naked 

 stem ; whereas those of A. scandens proceed from a rhizome (prostrate stem) 

 of a wide-creeping nature. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 251. 



A. (Polybotrya) Lechlerianum — Pol-yb-ot'-ry-a ; Lech-ler'-i-a'-num 

 (Lechler's), Hooker. 

 This is a very handsome stove species, from Peru and Ecuador, with 

 fronds 3ft. to 4ft. long and 1ft. to 1-Jft. broad, quadripinnatifid (four times 



