360 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



close to the costa (midrib) of the fertile segments. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 40. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 56. 



A. leucolepis — leu-coF-ep-is (having white scales), Martins. 



A stove species, native of Brazil and Columbia. Its fronds are large 

 and tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib) ; the pinna?, (leaflets) are 

 oblong-spear-shaped, 1ft. to lift, long, and furnished with sub-sessile pinnules 

 (almost stalkless leafits) 3in. to 4in. long and nearly lin. broad. Their 

 ultimate segments (sub-divisions) are strap-shaped, blunt, set somewhat far 

 apart, about Jin. broad, and denticulated (furnished with small teeth) ; they 

 are of a membranous texture and have both surfaces green, but the lower is 

 densely provided with broad white scales on the ribs. The small sori (spore 

 masses) are medial (disposed on the midvein of the fertile segments). — 

 Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 34. 



A. Loddigesii — Lod-dig-e'-si-i (Loddiges'), Kunze. 



This handsome, greenhouse species, native of Cape Byron, New South 

 Wales, somewhat resembles the popular A. australis, from which, however, it 

 differs essentially by its shorter fronds, its broader segments, and the dis- 

 position of its sori (spore masses). Its fronds, ample and tripinnatifid (three 

 times divided half-way to their midrib), have their rachises (stalks of the 

 leafy portions) of a pale brown colour, glossy or muricated (rough with short, 

 hard, tubercular excrescences). The oblong- spear- shaped pinna? (leaflets) 

 seldom attain 1ft. in length ; they are furnished with stalkless, spear-shaped 

 pinnules (leafits) 2jin. to 3in. long and Jin. to fin. broad, cut down to a 

 narrow wing. The segments thus formed are of a moderately firm texture, 

 two lines broad, oblong and entire ; both surfaces are green and smooth, 

 although the ribs below are furnished with a few small, spear-shaped scales. 

 The small and numerous sori (spore masses) are medial (disposed on the 

 midrib of the fertile segments). — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 459. 



A. lunulata — lu-nul-a'-ta (having moon-shaped pinnules), E. Brown. 



A stove species, native of Polynesia, whose stem or trunk attains from 

 20ft. to 25ft. in height. Its large fronds are tripinnate (three times divided 

 to the midrib), and borne on stalks of a particularly rough nature. The 



