ACROSTICHUM. 



227 



(cut nearly to the midrib), and having round, dented lobes ; and L. Smithii, 

 Fee, a very curious form, with fronds sessile (stalkless), tripinnatifid 

 (three times divided nearly to the midrib), and furnished with numerous 

 small pinnules (leafits), dichotomously forked (divided into two parts which 

 are repeatedly divided). 



A. spathulatum — spath-ul-a'-tum (spoon-shaped), Bon/. 



This is a dwarf-growing, stove species, native of various parts of Tropical 

 America, South Africa, and also of Ceylon, where, according to Beddome, it 

 is found growing at an elevation of 5000ft. to 6000ft. It is from a nearly 

 erect stem, densely scaly, and furnished with numerous wiry roots, that 

 the firm, upright, short stipes (stalks) are produced. These bear barren 

 fronds, about 4in. long by £in. broad, of a coriaceous (leathery) texture, 

 and having both surfaces and margins densely covered with hair-like scales. 

 The fertile fronds, smaller than the barren ones, are borne on longer stipes, 

 also of a scaly nature. This interesting little species is more generally 

 known under the name of A. piloselloides (pil-o-sel-lo-i'-des). — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, v., p. 227. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 20. Beddome, 

 Ferns of Southern India, t. 213. 



A. (Hymenolepis) spicatum — Hym-en-oT-ep-is ; spi-ca'-tum (spiked), 

 Linnosus. 



This species, of medium growth, though found in Ceylon, Madagascar, 

 the Philippines, and the Society Islands, may be considered a greenhouse 

 Fern, for it is also a native of the Himalayas, where it is found wild at an 

 elevation of 6000ft. Its fronds, lOin. to 18in. long and about lin. broad, are 

 of a leathery texture, and while their lower part is narrowed very gradually, 

 their upper, entire (undivided) part is contracted and fertile. They are 

 borne on firm stems, barely 2in. long, and proceeding from a short-creeping 

 rhizome (prostrate stem) of a woody nature. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., 

 p. 280. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 20. 



A. Sprucei — Spru'-ce-i (Spruce's), Baker. 



A stove species, which, although attaining rather large dimensions, its 

 barren fronds sometimes measuring 3ft. in length, including their stalks, is 



