280 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



A. digitatum— dig-it-a'-tum (finger-leaved), Presl. 



This distinct and robust -growing, stove species, native of New Granada 

 and Peru, is usually cultivated under the name of A. speciosum. In general 

 appearance it reminds one but very little of a Maidenhair Fern, as it is 

 of semi-scandent (half-climbing) habit, and its large fronds, which ' are 

 tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib) and of a soft, fleshy texture, 

 are of a deciduous nature ; they are borne on thick, fleshy stipes (stalks) of 

 a pale green colour, woolly and transparent, from 1ft. to l£ft. long ; their 

 foliaged portion, which frequently attains 3ft. in length and 20in. in width 

 at the lower part, gradually shortens upwards. The pinnules (leafits) vary 

 in shape from deflexed (bent back) to cuneate (wedge-shaped) at the base ; 

 they are very symmetrically set, borne on short stalks, often measure 

 ljin. across, have their upper edge rounded and deeply cut, and are densely 

 covered with short hairs, which give the foliage a woolly feeling when 

 touched. The sori (spore masses) are disposed in lines along the edge of 

 the lobes. This is a very distinct and ornamental Fern, as will be seen 

 from the Plate (for which we are indebted to Messrs. Veitch and Sons). — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., pp. 39 and 45, t. 85c. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 26. 



A. dissectum — dis-sec'-tum (cut up). A variety of A. cuneatum. 



A. dolabriforme — dol-a'-brif-or'-ine (axe-shaped). An evergreen form of 

 the deciduous A. lunulatum. 



A. (Hewardia) dolosum — Hew-ar'-di-a ; dol-o'-sum (deceiving), Kunze. 



This stove species, native of Jamaica, Granada, and Brazil, is better 

 known perhaps under the names of A. Wilsoni of Hooker and A. macrop- 

 terum of Miguel : it belongs to the small group which comprises the only 

 plants of the genus having anastomosing (intermixed) veins, but in general 

 aspect it much resembles A. lucidum. Its fronds, 9in. to 12in. long and 

 6in. to 12in. broad, of a dark green colour above, paler below, are borne 

 on upright stipes (stalks) 6in. to 12in. long, adherent to a creeping rhizome 

 (prostrate stem). They are simply pinnate (only once divided to the 

 midrib) and formed of a large terminal pinna (leaflet) and from two to six 

 lateral ones on each side ; these are of a sub-coriaceous (almost leathery) 



