ANTROPHYUM. 



405 



A. giganteum— gig-ant-e'-um (gigantic), Bory. 



The fronds of this robust-growing, stove species, native of the Mauritius 

 and Bourbon Islands, which frequently attain l£ft. in length, are 3in. to 4in. 

 broad, broadest one-third of the way down, and narrowed gradually to 

 a short, very stout stem. They are of a very thick texture, and their edge 

 is furnished with an entire border of a cartilaginous (gristly) nature ; their 

 surface is covered with close and fine areolae affecting a vertical position, 

 ^in. long and one line broad. The sori (spore masses) are slender and often 

 united. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 174. 



A. immersum — ini-mer'-suni (embedded), Mettenius. 



A small-growing, stove species, native of the Mauritius, Bourbon, and 

 Malay Islands, and also known as A. pumilum. Its fronds, of a thick 

 texture and seldom more than 4in. long by fin. broad, are narrowed gradually 

 upwards to a sharp point and to a short stem at their base ; they show no 

 distinct midrib, and their veins are conspicuously raised on the upper surface, 

 where they form long and narrow areolae, the central one of which affects 

 a vertical position. The sori (spore masses), often forked in this species, are 

 quite immersed (embedded in the texture of the fronds). — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, v., p. 170. 



A. lanceolatum — lan-ce-ol-a'-tum (spear-shaped), Kaulfuss. 



The habitat of this distinct, stove species extends from the West Indies 

 and Mexico southwards to New Granada. The fronds, of a papery texture, 

 and furnished with a slender, yet distinct, raised midrib throughout, are 1ft. 

 or more long, Jin. broad, sharply pointed at their extremity, but very 

 gradually narrowed towards their base from the lower half. The areolas, 

 which occupy a vertical position, are twice or three times as long as broad, 

 and are disposed in about three rows between the midrib and the edsre of 

 the fronds. The slender and superficial sori (spore masses) are often united. 

 — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 176. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 i., p. 89. 



A. latifolium — la-tif-oF-i-uin (broad-leaved), Blume. 



A stove species, native of Java and Bhotan, of a singular appearance, 

 produced by the stout, compressed stipes (stalks), 3in. to 6in. long, widening 



