ALSOPHILA. 



347 



the base even sometimes pinnate. The stalk and rachis (stalk of the leafy 

 portion of the frond), although in this species not exactly spiny, are very 

 rough to the touch and are covered at their base with dark brown, chaffy 

 scales ; the foliage is also altogether of a more leathery texture than that of 

 most other Tree Ferns. The small, round sori (spore masses) are disposed 

 from one to four at the basal portion of the fertile pinnules. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, i., p. 50, t. 19a. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 55. 

 Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, viii., t. 63. 



A. bipinnatifida — bip-in-na-tif'-id-a (twice divided half-way to the midrib), 

 Baker. 



A stove species, native of British Guiana, with fronds 2ft. to 3ft. long, 

 bipinnatifid and of a peculiar form, being gradually narrowed from the middle 

 to both ends. They are borne on short, slender, chestnut-coloured, quite 

 smooth stipes (stalks). The central pinna? (leaflets), provided with short 

 footstalks, are ligulate (strap-shaped), 4in. to 5in. long and fin. broad, cut 

 down to a narrow wing into close, blunt, strap -shaped, nearly entire lobes 

 two lines broad and 2in. to 3in. long. These segments, of a thin, papery 

 texture, have both sides green, especially the upper ; they are bristly on the 

 ribs, and the small sori (spore masses) are situated at the forking of the 

 veins, nearer the midrib than the margin of the fertile pinnules (lealits). — 

 Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 456. 



A. blechnoides — blech-no-i'-des (Blechnum-like), Hooker. 



This singular, stove species, remarkable for its large, nearly entire 

 (undivided) pinna?, is a native of the West Indies and Tropical America. 

 It is the only species with simply-pinnate fronds known. The pinna? (leaflets) 

 are of a thin yet leathery texture, glossy, 6in. to 12in. long, spear-shaped, 

 suddenly terminating in a point and serrate (dented like a saw) at their 

 summit. The sori (spore masses), mixed with copious long hairs, are 

 scattered in very irregular lines near the midrib and sometimes extending 

 towards the margin. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 35. 



A. BoiYini — Boi-vi'-ni (Boivin's), Mettenius. 



A stove species, native of the Isle of Mayotte, with fronds ample and 

 tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib). The pinna? (leaflets) are 



