328 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



and furnished near their base with a few narrow scales, vary in length from 

 l£ft. to 2jft. They consist of a central pinna (leaflet) Bin, to 9in. long 

 and 2in. to 3in. broad, and three or four large, spreading ones on each side, 

 the lowest of which are frequently branched again. The pinnules (leafits) 

 are of papery texture and of a brilliant green colour, ljin. to 2in. long, 

 Jin, to fin. broad, dimidiate (having one side of the midrib fully developed 

 and the other scarcely developed at all), and have their sides nearly parallel, 

 the outer and the upper edges being bluntly lobed. The sori (spore masses) 

 are oblong in form, large, prominent, and numerous, and are disposed close 

 together round the upper and outer edges of the fertile pinnules. This Fern 

 is readily distinguished from all others by its peculiar-shaped pinnules (see 

 Plate) ; it is also a free grower, which quality no doubt accounts for its 

 popularity. Like A. tetraphyllum, A. trapeziforme is very variable, and several 

 handsome varieties of it are known to be in cultivation. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, ii., p. 33. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 28. Lowe, 

 Ferns British and Exotic, hi., t. 3. 



A. t. CUltratum— cul-tra'-tum (knife-like), Smith. 



In this variety, of Brazilian origin, the leafy portion of the fronds, which 

 attain dimensions similar to those of the species, has a much less dense 

 appearance owing to the peculiar character of the pinnules (leafits), which 

 have their outer edge bluntly rounded. It also materially differs from the 

 type in the colour of its foliage, which when young is of a metallic hue, 

 turning with age to a dark green colour. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 34. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 28. 



When planted in the warm rockery and sufficient space is allowed for 

 its development, this Fern makes a noble specimen, as its foliage is very 

 persistent. 



A. t. pentadactylon — pent-ad-ac'-tyl-on (five-fingered), Langsdorff and 

 Fischer. 



This variety, also of Brazilian origin, differs from the species by its more 

 bushy habit and by the colour of its foliage, which is of a peculiar dark 

 green when mature, but when only partly developed is of a fine metallic or 

 bronzy hue. It differs from the foregoing variety in the shape of its pinnules 



