ALSOPHILA. 



377 



quill, dark- purple, glossy, and, like the main rachis (stalk of the leafy portion), 

 of a somewhat rough nature. Their primary pinnae (principal leaflets), 1ft. 

 long and often 4in. broad, are disposed about 4in. apart : they are subdivided 

 into sessile pinnules (stalkless leafits) Jin. long and cut down half-way to 

 their midrib. The sori (spore masses) are rather larger than usual, and are 

 disposed one to each lobule or sub-division when fertile. — Hooker, Synopsis 

 Filicum, p. 44. 



A. truncata — trun-ca'-ta (maimed, or terminating abruptly), Brackenridge. 



This is a very distinct and peculiar, stove species, native of the Fiji and 

 Samoan Islands. Its ample fronds are tripinnate (three times divided to the 

 midrib) ; the primary pinna? (principal leaflets) are lOin. to 15in. long, 4in. 

 to 5in. broad, oblong in form, but terminating in a tapering point. The very 

 small, stalkless pinnules (leafits) are set at a little distance apart, and are 

 truncated (maimed) at the base ; their margin, slightly lobed, is recurved 

 (bent in a backward direction) : they are of a firm, leathery texture, bright 

 green above and paler beneath, which tints are shown to great advantage by 

 the dark purple colour of the glossy rachis (stalk of the leafy portion of 

 the frond) and by the dark orange tint of the small sori (spore masses), 

 which are disposed close to the midrib of the fertile pinnules. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 39. 



A. Van-Geertii — Van-Geert'-I-i (Van Geert's). A variety of A. infesta. 



A. Yeitchii— Veitch'-i-i (Veitch's). A form of A. hmulata. 



A. Yernicosa — ver-nic-o'-sa (varnished), Mettenius. 



A stove species, of comparatively small dimensions, native of Venezuela. 

 The fronds are tripinnatifid (three times divided half-way to the midrib) and 

 of a somewhat leathery texture. The oblong-spear-shaped pinna? (leaflets) 

 are 6in. to 12in. long, and are furnished with almost stalkless, ligulate 

 pinnules (strap-shaped leafits) ljin. to 2 Jin. long : these pinnules are cut 

 down to a broad wing into oblong, ascending, close, blunt, entire segments 

 about two lines broad, of a nearly smooth nature, and green on both sides ; 

 their ribs underneath are sparingly clothed with a few broad, whitish scales. 

 The moderately large sori (spore masses) are disposed above the mid vein 

 of the fertile segments. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 37. 



3 c 



