230 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



A. (Aconiopteris) subdiaphanum — Ac-on-i-op'-ter-is ; sub-di-aph'- 



an-um (semi-transparent), Hooker and Greville. 

 The barren fronds of this singular species, Gin. to Sin. long by about 

 ljin. broad, are simple (undivided), with both ends gradually narrowed, and 

 their edge entire. They are borne on firm, upright, scaly stipes (stalks), 

 which proceed from an upright caudex (stem) of a woody nature. — Hooker, 

 Species FUicum, v., p. 256. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 20. 



A. (GymnopteHs) SUbrepandum — Gym-nop'-ter-is ; sub-rep-an'-dum 

 (slightly waved), Hooker. 

 This stove species, native of the Islands of Luzon and Penang, is very 

 decorative, for its barren fronds, 2ft. long by 1ft. broad, are copiously pinnate 

 (many times cut down to the midrib), and are furnished on each side with 

 numerous pinme (leaflets) of a coriaceous (leathery) texture, which sometimes 

 are 6in. to 9in. long and 2in. broad. The fertile fronds are like the others, 

 but smaller. — Hooker, Species FUicum, v., p. 275. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 20. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 339. ' 



A. SUCCisae folium — suc-ci'-sce-for-i-um (Succisa-leaved), Thouars. 



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

 native of the Bourbon and Mauritius Islands. — Hooker, Synopsis FUicum, 

 p. 408. 



A. (Gymnopteris) taccsefolium — Gym-nop'-ter-is ; tac-coB-fol'-i-um 

 (Tacca-leaved), Hooker. 

 This stove species, native of the Philippines, has barren fronds sometimes 

 entire (undivided), about 1ft. long and 2in. to 3in. broad ; sometimes 2ft. 

 or more in length and more than 1ft. in breadth, and copiously pinnate 

 (many times cut down to the midrib). In this latter case they are furnished 

 with lanceolate (spear-shaped) leaflets 6in. to 9in. long, about l^in. broad, 

 and of a soft, paper-like texture. These barren fronds are borne on stipes 

 (stalks) 3in. to 4in. long and scaly downwards. The fertile fronds are 

 sometimes undivided, and attain about 1ft. in length : in other instances 

 they are cut down to the midrib, with forked pinnae (leaflets) of a particularly 

 soft texture. The rhizome (prostrate stem) from which these fronds proceed 



