ALSOPHILA. 



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to the midrib), except at their extremity, where they are divided only half- 

 way to the midrib : they are borne on robust stipes (stalks) of a prickly 

 nature, and covered on their lower part with very large and exceedingly 

 glossy scales of a dark brown colour. The primary pinna; (principal leaflets) 

 are 1ft. long or more, furnished with pinnules (leafits) 2in. to 3in. long, 

 Jin. broad, bluntish, and cut half-way down to their midrib. The lobes 

 thus produced are mostly entire and often pointed : all of them are provided 

 with sori (spore masses), which are abundant, and disposed between 'their 

 midrib and their margin. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 38. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 56. 



A. pruinata — pru-i-na'-ta (like hoar-frost, in reference to the glaucous 

 nature of the under-side of the fronds), Kaulfuss. 



This remarkably handsome species, which thrives equally well under 

 either stove or greenhouse treatment, is a native of Tropical America and 

 the West Indian Islands. Sir W. J. Hooker remarks that it is an 

 abundant Jamaica Fern, that it has a stem from 3ft. to 8ft. in height, 

 with stipes perfectly smooth, and that Mr. Douglas compares it to a small 

 pine tree, leafy at the top. Its fronds, from 5ft. to 6ft. long and bipinnate 

 (twice divided to the midrib), are borne on stalks devoid of prickles, but 

 densely woolly at their base. The primary pinna? (principal leaflets) are 

 distinctly stalked, lanceolate in shape, and 1ft. to 1 }ft. long ; their pinnules 

 (leafits) are also stalked, 3in. to 4in. long, cut more than half-way to their 

 midrib, and sometimes perfectly pinnate (divided to the midrib). The very 

 numerous sub-divisions thus formed are spear-shaped, sharply pointed, finely 

 and conspicuously toothed, about Jin. long, coriaceous (leathery), shining 

 bright green above and glaucous (bluish-green) underneath. The sori (spore 

 masses) are disposed singly near the mid vein, one to each of the fertile 

 lobes. — Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 47. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 i., p. 56. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, viii., t. 66. 



Although very scarce in cultivation, this beautiful species deserves every 

 attention, if only on account of its distinctive and ornamental characters, for 

 its fronds, of a particularly elegant habit, are quite as silvery underneath as 

 those of the better-known Cyathea dealbata ; while the stem or trunk from 

 which they are produced, and which under cultivation seldom attains great 



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