324 



THE BOOK OE CHOICE FERNS. 



of its soft, papery pinnules (leafits), which are 2in. long and lin. broad, 

 ovate-acuminate (egg-shaped, but terminating in a sharp point), and slightly 

 oblique at the base on the lower side : they are borne on slender footstalks 

 |in. to Jin. long, and are also slightly lobed on their lower side. The sori 

 (spore masses) in this species are disposed in roundish or oblong patches 

 along both sides of the pinnules.— Booker, Species FUicum, ii., p. 34. 



A. SUbvolubile— sub-vol-u'-bil-e (nearly twining), Mcttenius. 



This singular, stove species, of sub-scandent (almost climbing) habit, is 

 a native of the Andes of East Peru. Its curious fronds, borne on slender, 

 shining stalks, which when they reach the leafy portion assume a peculiar 

 zigzag habit, consist of central lanceolate (spear-shaped) pinna; (leaflets) and 

 a few short, spreading pinnules (leafits) of a membranous (thin and filmy) 

 texture and bright green colour. The lateral or side pinnules have their 

 lower edge in a line with their footstalk, their inner edge touching or 

 wrapped over the stalk, and their outer edge showing shallow lobes : the lowest 

 pinnules are much wrapped over the stalk. The spore masses are small, 

 round, and disposed from six to twelve to each fertile pinnule.— Kdvker, 

 Synopsis FUicum, p. 473. 



A. SUlphureum — sul-phur'-e-um (sulphur-yellow). This is a variety 

 of A. cethiopicum. 



A. tenerum— ten'-er-um (tender), Swartz. 



This very fine, evergreen, stove species, of large dimensions and elegant 

 habit, has a very wide geographical range of habitat, for, while in the 

 " Synopsis Filicum " it is given as a native of Mexico and the West Indian 

 Islands southward to Juan Fernandez and Peru, Eaton, in his splendid 

 work on the " Ferns of North America," states that A. tenerum, or " Brittle 

 Maidenhair " as it is commonly called in America, grows on the banks of 

 Halifax River, Florida, and also near Ocala, Florida, where it is found wild 

 in abundance on sides of " sinks " in limestone ; and adds that it is 

 a common Fern in the West Indies, Bermuda, Mexico, Venezuela, and some 

 parts of South America. Under cultivation this species is a general favourite 

 wherever Ferns are in requisition for decorative purposes : its beautiful 

 fronds, which are abundantly produced from a slowly -creeping, underground 



