316 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



is, from a decorative point of view, sufficiently distinct to be separated from 

 it. Lowe, who gives an excellent illustration of A. pubescens, as well as one 

 of A. hispidulum showing a most distinct form of growth and habit, rightly 

 says, "This Fern has been correctly named pubescens : indeed it is as pubescent 

 as it is possible for a Fern to be, the stem being quite rough with the vast 

 number of short brown hairs with which it is entirely covered." A. pubescens 

 is of much larger dimensions than A. hispidulum as usually seen, the pinnules 

 (leafits) being much larger, deep green, bluntly oblong, wedge-shaped at the 

 base, with their margin slightly dented. The fronds are nearly all fertile, 

 from 1ft. to lift, long, produced from a tufted central crown, and are very 

 persistent. The kidney-shaped and hairy sori (spore masses) are small, 

 and are disposed from twelve to sixteen to a pinnule, along the upper and 

 outer edges only.— Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iii., t. 9. 



A. pulchellum— pul-cheF-lum (neat), Blume. 



A stove species, also known under the name of A. Lobbianum, native of 

 Java. It somewhat resembles A. fulvum in habit and texture of the foliage, 

 which, however, attains larger dimensions and is of a more hairy nature. 

 The fronds, borne on upright, nearly black, hairy stalks 6 in. to 12in. long, 

 are 1ft. or more each way and consist of a terminal central leaflet 6in. to 

 9in. long and l|in. broad, and a few large, spreading lateral ones on each 

 side, the lower ones being branched again with two to four spreading 

 branches. The pinnules (leafits) are similar in shape to those of the popular 

 A. fulvum, and the numerous small, roundish sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed on their upper edge. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 38. 



A. pulYerulentum— pul-ver-ul-en'-tum (dusty), Linnceus. 



A stove species, native of the West Indian Islands, of robust constitution 

 and easy culture. Its fronds, which are borne on stiff, upright, blackish 

 stipes (stalks) 6in. to 12in. long and so covered with short hairs of a rusty 

 colour as to be quite rough, are produced from a thick, slowly -creeping, 

 underground rhizome (prostrate stem). They consist of a central terminal 

 pinna (leaflet) and several spreading lateral ones on each side, all of which, 

 except those at the base of the fronds, are 4in. to Sin. long and lin. broad. 

 The numerous pinnules (leafits), of a brilliant metallic hue when in a young 



