ACROSTICHUM. 



207 



divided to the stalk) ; the lower pinnae (leaflets), 6in. to 9in. long and 4in. 

 to 5in. broad, are furnished with close, lanceolate (spear-shaped) pinnules 

 (leafits) deeply lobed or cut nearly down to the rachis (stalk), which is 

 pubescent. These barren fronds are of a coriaceous (leathery) texture, naked 

 on both surfaces, and are borne on firm, erect stipes (stalks) 9in. to 12in. 

 long, scaly downwards. The fertile pinnules are narrower and more distant 

 (set further apart) ; their segments are oblong or elliptical and cylindrical, 

 and have a space between them, the lower ones being rather beaded (round 

 and close together). The rhizome (prostrate stem), from which the fronds 

 are produced, is wide -creeping or long-trailing, scaly, and of a woody 

 nature. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 246. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iv., p. 484. 



A. (Elaphoglossum) lepidotum — El-aph-og-los'-sum ; lep-id-o'-tum 



(scaly), Willdenow. 

 A stove species of tropical American origin, and which is possessed of only 

 botanical interest ; its small, leathery barren fronds seldom reaching over 

 8in. in length, including the stalks on which they are borne, and which are 

 firm and scaly throughout. Its fertile fronds are similar to the others, but 

 are borne on longer stalks. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 238. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, L, p. 19. 



A. (Elaphoglossum) leptophyllum— -El-aph-og-los'-sum; lep-toph-yl'-lum 

 (thin -leaved), Fee. 



A stove species, native of Brazil, and of purely botanical interest. It 

 is characterised by the ligulate (strap -shaped) form of its coriaceous (leathery) 

 fronds, which are borne on stalks 3in. to 4in. long, and of its fertile ones, 

 which are provided with stalks three or four times as long. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 400. 



A. (Elaphoglossum) Lindeni— El-aph-og-los'-sum ; Lin'-den-i (Lin- 

 den's), Bory. 



This curious little stove species, which is found in most parts of tropical 

 America, from Mexico to Ecuador and Brazil, although of very little decorative 

 value, is peculiar on account of its leathery fronds, barren and fertile, being 



