ADIANTUM. 



323 



and scarcely at all on the other) ; their lower line is nearly straight, the 

 upper line is rounded, and, like the two bluntly -rounded sides, broadly lobed ; 

 they are stalkless, and usually reflexed, so that the pinnae of the opposite 

 sides of the stalk are brought face to face, the inner quarter of the blade 

 being imbricated (overlapping the stalk). The foliage is of a sub- coriaceous 

 (almost leathery) texture, and the sori (spore masses), which are kidney- 

 shaped and as deep as broad, are situated in distinct hollows around the 

 outer edge.-— Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 9, t. 73b. 



A. sinuosum — sin-u-o'-sum (wavy), Gardner. 



This stove species, native of Brazil, although existing in herbaria, is 

 unknown in European gardens, where its introduction would be most welcome 

 on account of the peculiar shape of its pinnules (leafits) : these are about 

 half-way between those of the flabellato-cuneate (fan- and wedge-shaped) type, 

 of which A. Capillus -Veneris is a good illustration, and those of form that 

 is truly dimidiate (fully developed on one side of the midrib and scarcely at 

 all on the other), as in A. trapeziforme, so that its position may be said to 

 be intermediate between these two species. The fronds, borne on upright, 

 nearly black, shining stalks 4in. to Sin. long, consist of a long, terminal, 

 central pinna (leaflet) 2in. to 3in. broad and one or two pairs of spreading 

 branches at the base. The pinnules, besides being peculiarly shaped, have 

 their upper margin deeply lobed, the lobes being again crenate (notched). 

 The obreniform (reversed kidney- shaped) spore masses are disposed in rounded 

 sinuses (depressions) on the notches of the lobes. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 ii., p. 35. 



A. speciosum — spec-i-o'-sum (showy). Synonymous with A. digitatum. 



A. strictum — stric'-tum (upright). A variety of A. cuneatum. 



A. STlbcordatum — sub-cor-da'-tum (almost heart-shaped), Swartz, 



This stove species, native of Gruiana and Brazil, resembles the popular 

 A. trapeziforme as regards general habit and dimensions, for its fronds, borne 

 on upright, stout, blackish, shining stipes (stalks) Gin. to 12in. long, are fully 

 2ft. long and 1ft. broad, tripinnate (thrice divided to the midrib), with their 

 lower pinna? (leaflets) 1ft. long and 6in. to 9in. broad. But A. subcordatum 

 differs essentially from the species above mentioned through the shape 



