332 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



smooth margins broadly lobed ; whereas in the barren ones the cuneate 

 (wedge-shaped) form is not so clearly shown, their upper edge being much 

 more rounded and usually finely dented. The whole of the foliage is of 

 a coriaceous (leathery) texture, and the colour of the upper surface of the 

 fronds is of a bright green, while their under -surface is quite glaucous 

 (bluish-green)— characters which further distinguish it from the spurious 

 form. The large and roundish sori (spore masses) are disposed from one to 

 three in distinct hollows of the upper margin. — Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., 

 p. 40, t. 96b. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 29. Beddome, 

 Ferns of British India, t. 20. 



A. Yersaillense — ver-sail-len'-se (from Versailles). A variety of A. cuneatum. 



A. Victoriae — Vic-to'-rf'-ae (Victoria's), Moore. 



In this pretty, dwarf Maidenhair, of garden origin, and which has all 

 the appearance of a very dwarf form of A. Farleyense, the fronds, abundantly 

 produced from a central, tufted crown, are crowded, bipinnate (twice divided 

 to the midrib), and form close, low tufts, 4in. to 6in. high, of rich, bright 

 green foliage. The rather large pinnules (leafits) are peculiarly crisped or 

 undulated, deeply lobed around the upper and outer margins, and the oblong 

 sori (spore masses) are disposed one on the tip of each lobe of the fertile 

 pinnules. — Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 29. 



A. Yillosissimum — vil-lo-sis'-sim-um (very hairy), Mettenius. 



A very singular, stove species, of medium growth, native of Panama. 

 The fronds are 1ft. long, bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib), and 

 furnished with pinnules (leafits) of a parchment-like texture, the surfaces 

 of which are of a dark green colour and densely covered with closely-pressed, 

 slender, reddish hairs : the hairs are also found abundantly on the stalks 

 and on the indusium (covering of the long and narrow spore masses) on 

 the superior margin. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 473. 



A. villosum — vil-lo'-sum (hairy- stalked), TAnnceus. 



This is a remarkably distinct, stove species, native of the West Indies, 

 Panama, and Brazil. It is easily recognisable by the line of fructification, 

 which is continued all along the upper and then usually down the oblique 



