ACROSTICHUM. 



209 



however, it differs by its more spoon-shaped fronds, which are also more 

 blunt and slightly scaly at the edge ; they seldom exceed 1ft. in length, 

 and are of a very coriaceous (leathery) texture, with both sides naked. — 

 Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 402. 



A. (Elaphoglossum) magnum — El-aph-og-loV-sum ; mag'-num (large), 

 Baker (?). 



This very handsome stove species, native of British Guiana, is a very 

 decorative Fern, although its fronds are entire (undivided). The barren 

 ones, from 2ft. to 3ft. long and from l^in. to 2in. wide, are lanceolate (spear- 

 shaped), being gradually narrowed to both ends ; they are of a coriaceous 

 (leathery) texture and light colour, their upper surface being covered with 

 minute, whitish, chaffy scales, while on the under- surface these are of a 

 ferruginous (rusty) colour, and very dense. These fronds are borne on tufted 

 stalks 3in. to 4in. long, which proceed from a sub-erect (nearly upright) 

 rhizome or stem ; this is also densely clothed with small paleas (chaffy scales) 

 of a nearly black colour. — Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 484. 



A. Mandoni— Man'-don-i (Mandon's), Mettenius. 



A botanical species of most diminutive size, native of the Andes of 

 Bolivia. Its barren fronds, barely 2in. long, have both sides densely covered 

 with reddish-brown scales. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum,, p. 522. 



A. marginale — mar-gin-a'-le (marginal), Baker. 



This stove soecies, of small dimensions, native of the Andes of Ecuador, 

 has 'barren fronds of a remarkably leathery texture, and naked on both 

 surfaces ; they are oblong-lanceolate (elliptically spear-shaped), about Gin. long 

 by 2in. broad, narrowed suddenly at the base and gradually to their point, and 

 bordered by a dense fringe of minute, spreading, brown scales. The stipes 

 (stalks) on which the barren fronds are borne are only 3in. to 4in. long, 

 and, like the woody rhizome (prostrate stem) from which they proceed, are 

 thinly covered with linear (much longer than wide) scales of a light brown 

 colour. The fertile fronds, which are ornamented with a similar border, are 

 of a different shape, being ligulate (strap-like), about ^in. broad ; their 

 upper surface is clothed with scales, adpressed (closely pressed together), 



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