ALSOPHILA. 



367 



at the base, equally black but edged with brown, are spear-shaped and very 

 glossy. The pinna3 (leaflets) are stalkless and cut down to the rachis, the 

 central ones 6in. to Tin. long and lin. broad, the lower ones of smaller 

 dimensions. The pinnules (leafits) are of an almost leathery texture, green 

 on both sides, ligulate (strap- shaped), somewhat pointed, toothed, about Jin. 

 broad, and attached to the rachis on the whole length of their base. The 

 sparingly -produced sori (spore masses) are costular (disposed on the midrib 

 or costa of the fertile pinnules). — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 457. 



A. phalerata — phal-er-a'-ta (ornamented). A form of A. infesta. 



A. phegopteroides — phe-gop'-ter-o-i'-des (Phegopteris-like), Hooker. 



This stove species, native of Tarapota, Eastern Peru, is very peculiar on 

 account of the shortness of its stipes (stalks), the character of its fronds — 

 which in outline resemble those of some Lastrea or Phegopteris — and their 

 hairy clothing, brown and shaggy beneath. It is of comparatively dwarf 

 dimensions, its stem or trunk seldom attaining more than 3ft. in height. Its 

 fronds are bipinnate (twice cut down to the midrib), borne on unarmed 

 stipes (stalks) only 3in. to 4in. long and clothed with large, spear-shaped, 

 glossy, black scales having a pale margin : they are of almost leathery 

 texture, black-green above, paler beneath, hairy on both sides, especially 

 underneath, broadly spear-shaped and pinnatihd (cut half-way down to their 

 midrib). The pinnge (leaflets) are 3in. to 4in. long and Jin. broad, stalkless, 

 oblong, shortly and bluntly pointed, and cut down very close to their midrib : 

 the lobes thus formed are oblong, very blunt and entire, and have their 

 margins slightly recurved. The sori (spore masses), situated at the forking 

 of the veins, are disposed in a line between the midrib and the margin of 

 the fertile segments. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 32. 



A. podophylla — pod-oph-yF-la (having fronds provided with a foot or 

 stalk), Hooker. 



A greenhouse species, native of Chusan and Hong-Kong, where it is said 

 to be plentiful. It is a very variable species, somewhat resembling A. glabra 

 of Hooker, though quite distinct from that species. Its ample fronds, of a 

 somewhat leathery texture, are borne on stipes (stalks) of a peculiarly 

 aculeate (spiny) nature, and, like the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion 



