218 



long, they frequently measure from 2ft. to 4ft. in length and from 1ft. to 

 3ft. in breadth. They are deltoid in shape (resembling the Greek letter A), of 

 a coriaceous (leathery) texture, and their upper pinna? (leaflets), lanceolate 

 (spear-shaped) and pinnatifid (divided nearly to the midrib), are sometimes 

 lijrft. long and Gin. to lOin. broad ; these are again subdivided, and their 

 pinnules (leants) are in the form of long, falcate (sickle-shaped) lobes, reaching 

 half-way down to the midrib, and with both surfaces naked, the upper one 

 being particularly glossy. The fertile pinnules, which measure 2in. to 3in. in 

 length, are very narrow (not more than one line broad), dangling (hanging 

 loosely), continuous or beaded (round and set close together), and disposed 

 from Jin. to lin. apart. These fronds are borne on robust stipes (stalks) of 

 a woody nature, which are covered at their base with long and very narrow 

 scales, and which proceed from a wide-scandent or long-trailing, woody rhizome 

 (prostrate stem) often lin. in thickness. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 244. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, L, p. 19. 



A. pilosum — pil-o'-sum (hairy), Hooker. 



This Mexican, stove species, although principally of botanical interest, is 

 easily distinguished from all others by the texture and the clothing of its 

 barren fronds, which are interesting through their being flexuose (bending 

 gently to and fro in opposite directions), and covered on both sides with 

 small scales of a bright brown colour, each of them resembling a tuft of 

 stellate (radiating star-like) hairs. These fronds, 6in. to 8in. long and nearly 

 lin. broad, are borne on zigzag and slightly scaly stipes (stalks), which 

 proceed from a rhizome (prostrate stem) of a woody nature, and densely 

 covered with large, spear-shaped scales of a pale brown colour. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 241. 



A. (Hymenolepis) platyrhynchos — Hym-en-ol'-ep-is ; plat-y-rhyn'-chos 

 (broad-beaked), Hooker. 

 A stove species, from the Philippines, which is of little decorative value, 

 but is distinct from most other species through the sori (clusters of spore-cases) 

 being disposed in a patch, sometimes 2in. long, at the apex or point of the 

 frond. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 280. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 i., p. 20. 



