436 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



more dwarf and compact habit. The Jersey plant has fronds 2ft. to 3ft. 

 long, and these are rendered very curious through the extreme contraction 

 of the deeply-cut pinnules (leafits), which are much depauperated and of 

 a greyish-green colour. The singular character of these pinnules gives the 

 frond a skeleton-like appearance. The upper part of each pinna (leaflet), 

 to about one-third of its length, is formed by the pinnules merging 

 into one another and forming a saw-edge-like, spiny-toothed, broadish 

 termination, imparting a heavy border to the outline of each frond, which 

 is thus rendered particularly elegant. The sori (spore masses) are situated 

 on the edge of the frond, where they form prominent little dots ; these 

 being seen from above add to the interest attached to this extraordinary 

 plant. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, i., p. 93, t. 18. 



A. a. oxyphyllum — ox-yph-yl'-lum (having sharp-pointed leaves). 



An exceedingly fine and elegant variety, of slender, graceful habit, yet 

 of large dimensions, as its fronds, ljft. to 2ft. long and 6in. to 9in. wide, 

 are very spreading and partake in their general outline of the feathery 

 character of the better-known A. a. plumosum, together with the sharply- 

 pointed and narrow character of the pinnules (leafits) of A. a. acutum. 

 The fronds, thrice divided, are of a very scaly nature, and their pinna? 

 (leaflets) are all more or less overlapping ; while the pinnules are profoundly 

 cut in a lobed and attenuated manner, like those of the popular 

 A. a. proliferum, which it somewhat resembles, though it is not in any way 

 proliferous. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, i., p. 116, fig. 89. 



A. a. parYissimum— par-vis'-sim-uni (very small), Gray. 



This very distinct variety, which originated as a seedling in the collection 

 of Mr. R. J. Gray, of St. Thomas', Exeter, is unique in general appearance ; 

 for its fronds, which seldom exceed 1ft. in length, are closely congested 

 and taper sharply to a point. The whole plant is of a somewhat rigid, 

 though elegant habit ; its numerous and closely-set pinna? (leaflets) are 

 furnished with very minute, dark green, blunt pinnules (leafits), of 

 a somewhat leathery texture and overlapping each other. This form is 

 a comparatively slow grower, but it possesses the advantage of holding its 

 foliage for a great length of time. 



