210 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



and the stalks on which they are borne reach fully lft. in length. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 519. 



A. (Elaphoglossum) Matthewsii — El-aph-og-l6V-sum ; Mat-thews'-i-i 

 (Matthews'), Fee. 



A stove, Mexican and Peruvian species, of botanical interest only, with 

 barren fronds seldom exceeding 3in. in length, and borne on stalks of the same 

 length. Contrary to nearly all other Acrostichums (Ac-ros'-tich-mns), this 

 has fertile fronds larger than the barren ones, and also borne on longer 

 stalks. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 408. 



A. (Elaphoglossum) melanopus — El-aph-og-los'-sum ; mel-an'-op-us 

 (having a black foot), Kunze. 

 This stove Fern, native of Venezuela, is of comparatively small dimensions, 

 its barren fronds being from 5in. to Sin. in length and about 2in. broad. 

 They are of an elliptical -oblong shape, and sharply pointed at their ex- 

 tremity, while their base is rounded ; they are of a coriaceous (leathery) 

 texture, and have their margins ornamented with small, dark scales. The 

 stipes (stalks) on which they are borne are 2in. to 3in. long, and, as well 

 as the short- creeping rhizome (prostrate stem) from which these are produced, 

 are densely covered with long, blackish or dark chestnut-coloured scales. The 

 fertile fronds, borne on longer stalks, are only half the size, shorter and narrower. 

 — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 403. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, vii., t. 59. 



A. Mettenii — Met-ten'-i-i (Mettenius'), Kuhn. 



A 'stove species, of small dimensions and of purely botanical interest, 

 native of the valley of Lloa, Ecuador, where it is found growing wild on 

 trees in company with A. dendricolum (den-dric'-ol-um). Its barren fronds, 

 of a thin but firm texture, seldom exceed Sin. in length, including the stalks 

 on which they are borne. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 520. 



A. (Elaphoglossum) micradenium — El-aph-og-los'-um ; mi-cra- 

 den'-i-um (small-glanded), Fee. 

 This dwarf- growing, stove' species, native of the Sandwich Islands, is of 

 little decorative value, for its barren fronds, of an herbaceous or soft texture, 



