306 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



lines.— Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 8, t. 79a. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, L, p. 27. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iii., t. 13b. 



A. O. minus — min'-us (lesser), Moore. 



This plant, native of Columbia, has all the appearance of being but 

 a form of the species just described. It differs from the type in its smaller 

 dimensions ; the fronds, borne on black stalks, are pinnate (once divided to 

 the midrib) ; the pinnae (leaflets), disposed on each side of the midrib, are 

 falcate (sickle-shaped) and terminate in a point, the barren ones being toothed, 

 while the fertile ones have their edges covered with sori (spore masses) of 

 oblong shape, and their extremity, instead of being pointed, is conspicuously 

 lobed. — Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 485. 



A. obtusum— ob-tu'-sum (blunt), Desvaux. 



This stove species, which appears to be identical with A. serratodentatum 

 of Willdenow, is a native of the West Indian Islands ; it is also found in 

 countries extending from Panama southwards to Peru and Rio Janeiro. Its 

 distinct fronds, which are borne on wiry, blackish, slightly downy stipes 

 (stalks) 6in. to 12in. long, consist of a terminal pinna and several pairs of 

 lateral pinnae (leaflets), all of which are abundantly furnished with pinnules 

 (leafits) of a leathery texture, dark green in colour, and of a particularly 

 glossy nature : these pinnules are of a peculiar shape, the lower line being 

 nearly straight, while the upper one is bluntly rounded. The sori (spore 

 masses) are numerous, and form oblong patches round the upper and outer 

 edges of the pinnules, the lower edge never bearing any. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, ii., p. 19. 



A. Oweni— O'-wen-i (Owen's), Moore. 



This supposed stove hybrid, of garden origin, is one of the most graceful 

 among all the Adiantums in cultivation. It belongs to the series of plants 

 which Mr. Moore regards as probably resulting from natural hybridisation 

 between A. Moorei (A. amabile of commerce) and A. cuneatum, and the 

 general appearance of the plant certainly warrants his assumption. In habit 

 it is as elegant as A. Moorei, the pleasing pale green colour of which it also 

 possesses ; whereas its fronds, which are about IJffc. long and borne on 



