370 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



small, narrow, dark-coloured scales. The copious sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed between the midrib and the margin of the fertile pinnules. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 44. 



A. Taenitis— Tsen-i'-tis (Taenitis-like), Hooker. 



This elegant, stove species, native of Brazil, has fronds 3ft. to 6ft. long 

 and bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib). Their pinnae (leaflets), 1ft. to 

 lift, long, are furnished with distantly-set pinnules (leafits) borne on short 

 footstalks, which are peculiarly jointed on to the rachis (stalk of the leafy 

 portion of the frond). These pinnules, of a smooth nature and of a somewhat 

 leathery texture, are lanceolate (spear-shaped), but terminate in a tapering 

 point and measure 3in. to Sin. in length. The sori (spore masses), which 

 are mixed with long, copious hairs, are disposed in a single row midway 

 between the costa (midrib) and the margin of the fertile pinnules. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, i., p. 35. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 56. 



A. tomentosa — to-men-to'-sa (woolly), Hooker. 



A stove species, native of Java and Formosa, somewhat resembling the 

 Indian A. crinita, but scarcely anywhere hairy. The stipes (stalks) and main 

 rachis (stalk of the leafy portion of the frond), of a palish brown colour, 

 are strongly muricated (rendered very rough by the presence of numerous 

 short spines tipped with a black gland). The fronds, with pinnae (leaflets) 

 2ft. long by about lOin. broad, are of a leathery texture and of a blackish- 

 green colour above ; their stalkless pinnules (leafits), divided nearly to the 

 midrib into narrow-oblong lobes, are of a very peculiar nature, inasmuch as 

 their under-side is conspicuously cobwebby with small, white, ragged scales of 

 a woolly nature. The scales fill up all the interstices of the sori (spore 

 masses), with which the whole under-surface of the frond is covered. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, i., p. 55. 



A. tristis — tris'-tis (sad, referring to the dull colour of its foliage), Blume. 



This very remarkable, stove Fern, native of Java, is distinct not only 

 through the peculiar tint of its fronds, but also through their form, which is 

 intermediate between egg-shape and spear-shape. They are of a blackish- 

 brown colour, 3ft. or more in length, tripinnate (three times divided to the 

 midrib), and borne on stipes (stalks) 2ft. or more long, as thick as a goose- 



