ALSO PHI LA. 



3(35 



pinna? (leaflets) 1ft. to ljft. long, and their stalkless, strap-shaped pinnules 

 (leafits) are set closely together, about 2in. long and ^in. broad, and cut down 

 to a distinct wing. The segments thus formed, of a somewhat leathery 

 texture, smooth except on the ribs above and green on both sides, are also 

 strap-shaped, closely set, blunt, entire, and |in. broad. The minute and 

 sparingly-produced sori (spore masses) are situated on the midvein of 

 these fertile segments. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 458. 



A. obtusiloba — ob-tu-siF-ob-a (having blunt lobes), Hooker. 



This is one of the very few known species from Tropical Africa ; it is 

 a native of Sierra del Crystal. Its fronds, of a firm texture and particularly 

 black-green colour, scarcely paler underneath, are borne on short stipes 

 (stalks) scarcely 4in. long, thicker than a swan's quill, and which, like the 

 rachis (stalk of the leafy portion of the frond), are rough and of a dark, 

 glossy, purple colour. These fronds, 4ft. or more long, are pinnate (cut 

 down to the midrib) throughout, and though three or four of the lowest pairs 

 of pinnae (leaflets) are much dwarfed, the majority of them are from 9in. to 

 lOin. long, borne on short stalks, oblong, and deeply pinnatifid (cut nearly 

 down to the midrib in their lowest portion, but less deeply upwards). The 

 lobes thus produced are five to seven lines long, somewhat sickle-shaped, 

 perfectly entire (uncut), and very blunt. The copious small sori (spore 

 masses) are situated nearer the midrib than the margin of the fertile lobes, 

 and are peculiarly prominent. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 45. 



A. Oldhami — Old'-ham-i (Oldham's). A variety of A. latebrosa. 



A. oligocarpa — ol-ig-oc-ar'-pa (having few fruits), Fee. 



This stove species, native of the Andes of Columbia, which is also known 

 as A. decomposita of Karsten, has the largest and most compound pinna? 

 (leaflets) of all known species. Its very ample fronds are quadripinnatifid 

 (four times divided half-way to the midrib) ; their oblong pinna? are ljffc. 

 to 2ft. long, and are furnished with stalked pinnules (leafits) Sin. to 6in. 

 long and lin. broad ; the segments of the pinnules, ligulate (strap-shaped), 

 Jin. broad, of a moderately firm texture, and with both surfaces green and 

 smooth, are deeply pinnatifid, with oblong, blunt lobes, on the midveins 

 of which the sori (spore masses) are disposed four to six to each fertile 

 lobe. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 39. 



