ASP ID I UM. 



471 



A. (Polystichum) Seemanni— Pol-ys'-tich-um ; See-nian'-ni (Seemann's), 

 Hooker. 



This stove species, native of Panama, has fronds ljft. to 2ft. long by 

 lft. broad, borne on stout, upright stipes (stalks) that are scaly only at their 

 base. The pinna; (leaflets), of a leathery texture, 6in. to Sin. long and 2in. 

 to 2;| in. broad, are subdivided into unequal-sided pinnules (leafits), bluntly 

 lobed and nearly naked on both surfaces. The lower lobes reach down 

 nearly to the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) ; their midrib is very 

 prominent, and the sori (spore masses) are disposed from four to six to 

 each lobe. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 34, t. 230. 



A. (Cyclopeltis) semicordatum — Cy-clop-el'-trs ; se-mic-or-da'-tum 

 (half- heart-shaped) , Swartz. 

 This very uncommon and equally interesting, stove species is a native 

 of Tropical America, where it has a very wide range of habitat, being found 

 in a wild state from Cuba and Panama to Brazil and Peru ; also in Moulmein, 

 where, according to Beddome, it was found by the Rev. C. S. Parish. Its 

 fronds, which are produced from a short, stout, and scaly rhizome (prostrate 

 stem), are 2ft. to 3ft. long, Sin. to 12in. broad, and simply pinnate (once 

 only divided to the midrib) ; they are borne on stalks 6in. to lOin. long, 

 and are furnished with spreading pinnae (leaflets) which are nearly entire, 

 stalkless, and almost heart-shaped or auricled (eared) at the base, where 

 they are jointed to the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) ; the pinnae are 

 of a soft, papery texture and bright green colour. The sori (spore masses) 

 are disposed in one, two, or three rows on each side of the midvein, the 

 inner one, the most constant and regular, close to it. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, iv., p. 16. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, L, p. 127. Lowe, 

 Ferns British and Exotic, vi., t. 3. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 35. 



A. (Lastrea) setosum — Las'-tre-a ; se-to'-sum (bristly), Blume. A stove 

 species, native of Java, and now classed under Nephrodium. 



A. (Polystichum) setosum — Pol-ys'-tich-um ; se-to'-sum (bristly), of 

 commerce. 



Although we fail to find any authority answerable for its name, this 

 splendid greenhouse Fern, of Japanese origin, has, through its lasting qualities, 



