366 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



A. ornata — or-na'-ta (adorned), Scott. 



A greenhouse species, native of Sikkim, where, according to Beddome, 

 it is found growing on the banks of the Rungbee at an elevation of 2500ft., 

 and is called "Dang Pashin " and " Poschok " by the Lepchas. Its large 

 fronds are tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib), and their oblong- 

 spear-shaped pinna? (leaflets), lift, to 2ft. long, are furnished with sessile 

 (stalkless), spear-shaped pinnules (leafits) 3in. to 4in. long, fin. broad, of 

 a moderately firm texture, green on both sides, and free from either hairs or 

 scales. Their segments (sub -divisions) are strap-shaped, blunt, toothed, and 

 set closely together, and the numerous small sori (spore masses) are disposed 

 close to their costa (midrib). — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 460. Beddome, 

 Ferns of British India, t. 342. 



A. paleolata — pal-e-ol-a'-ta (scaly), Martins. 



This strong -growing, stove species, also known as A. Gardneri of Hooker 

 and A. senilis of Klotzsch, is a native of Columbia and Brazil, where its 

 slender stem or trunk attains a height of 20ft. Its ample fronds are tri- 

 pinnatifid (three times divided half-way to the midrib), have their rachis 

 (stalk of the leafy portion) straw-coloured, smooth, and finely-downy below. 

 Their pinnae (leaflets) are oblong-spear-shaped, ljft. to 2ft. long, furnished 

 with strap-shaped, stalkless pinnules (leafits) 3in. to 4in. long, Jin. to fin. 

 broad, cut down to a narrow wing • the segments thus produced, of moderately 

 firm texture and densely hairy on both sides, are ligulate (strap -shaped), 

 blunt, nearly entire, and about ^in. broad. The unusually large sori (spore 

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

 Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 41. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 L, p. 56. 



A. paucifolia — pau-cif-oF-i-a (having few leaves); Baker. 



A stove species, native of the Andes of Ecuador, of comparatively dwarf 

 stature, its slender stem or trunk seldom attaining more than 3ft. in height 

 and lin. in thickness. Its fronds, 2ft. to 3ft. long, are oblong in shape and 

 bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib) ; they are borne on remarkably black 

 stipes (stalks) about 6in. long : like the stipes, the rachis (stalk of the 

 leafy portion) is black and naked on the under-side, and the scales observed 



