A CROSTICHUM. 



213 



or nearly so, and leathery ; they measure from 1ft. to l^ft. in length and 

 about lin. in breadth, and are produced from a stout, woody rhizome (prostrate 

 stem), covered with linear (very long and narrow) scales of a dull brown 

 colour. The fertile fronds are much narrower than the others. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 215. 



A. obductum — ob-duc'-tum (concealed), Kaulfuss. 



A stove species, native of the Mauritius and Bourbon Islands, resembling 

 in texture and habit some of the large forms of A. viscosum (vis-co'-sum). 

 Its barren fronds, 1ft. to l|ft. long and more than lin. broad, have their base 

 gradually narrowed, and are of a sub-coriaceous (somewhat leathery) texture ; 

 their upper surface is naked ; the small, pale- coloured scales with which their 

 under-surface is densely covered are altogether peltate (attached by the 

 middle) and very minute, and the coating, though close, is very thin and easily 

 rubs away. These fronds are borne on firm, erect stipes (stalks), 3in. to 4in. 

 long, which, like the woody rhizome (prostrate stem) from which they spring, 

 are densely covered with small, linear (long and very narrow) scales, with a 

 black centre and a grey edge. The fertile fronds are much smaller than the 

 others. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 237. 



A. (Gymnopteris) oligarchicum — Gym-nop'-ter-is ; ol-ig-arch'-ic-um 

 (commanding), Baker. 

 A stove species from North Peru, of little decorative value, with barren 

 fronds pinnate (divided to the midrib), Sin. to 12in. long and oin. to Gin. 

 broad, and of a soft texture, and fertile fronds simple (undivided), 3in. to 

 4in. long, borne on stipes (stalks) Gin. to 12in. long. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 418. 



A. ornatum — or-na'-tuni (adorned), Mettenius. 



A stove species, native of the Andes of Venezuela, of botanical interest, 

 but rendered generally interesting through the edge of the fronds, which are 

 Gin. to 7in. long, and narrowed at both ends, being densely fringed with 

 very minute, rust-coloured scales ; and also through the stalks on which they 

 are borne being, like the midrib beneath, densely clothed with spreading, pale 

 reddish scales 2in. to Bin. long. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 522. 



