216 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



A. Patini — Pat-i/-ni (Patin's), Baker. 



This stove species, of medium growth, but of little decorative value, was 

 discovered by Patin in the Andes of New Granada. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, 

 p. 519. 



A. (Rhipidopteris) peltatum — Rhi-pid-op'-ter-is ; pel-ta'-tmn (peltate- 



froncled ) , Swartz. 



This exceedingly pretty, dwarf- growing, stove species, whose habitat 

 extends from Mexico and the West Indies to Peru and Brazil, where it is 

 found growing luxuriantly in decayed vegetable matter and on trunks of 



Fig. 30. Acrostichum peltatum 

 (i nat. size). 



trees, is one of the most distinct, as also one of the most attractive, of all the 

 numerous species belonging to the genus. As the name peltatum implies, 

 and as may be seen by Fig. 30, its little barren fronds, of a coriaceous 

 (leathery) texture, from ljin. to 2in. each way, are attached by their centre, 

 or nearly so, to slender stalks 2in. to 4in. long and scaly throughout. These 

 barren fronds, which are produced in great abundance, are essentially different 

 from those of any other member of the genus, as they are repeatedly dichoto- 

 mous — that is to say, not only is each portion of them forked, but each forked 

 part is subdivided into two branches, and each of these again into two 



