ASP ID I UM. 



477 



below, are produced from a decumbent rhizome (prostrate stem) and are of 

 a peculiar metallic tint when young, though when fully developed they are 

 of a rich dark green colour ; they are nearly triangular in outline, the 

 lower pinnae (leaflets) being much the longest. The pinnules (leafits) in 

 all the pinnas are lanceolate and imbricated (spear-shaped and overlapping), 

 the lowest one on the under-side being much larger than the others ; their 

 segments (sub -divisions) are oblong in shape, blunt, and very slightly 

 toothed. The sori (spore masses) are disposed principally in two rows 

 near the midrib. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 30, t. 226. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 126. 



A. (Polystichum) Yestitum— Pol-ys'-tich-um • ves-ti'-tum (clothed), 

 Swartz. 



This very handsome, evergreen, greenhouse species, native of New 

 Zealand, Tasmania, and Chili, is of smaller and more compact habit than 

 most of the species belonging to the section Polystichum, and it makes 

 a very pretty specimen plant. It must not be confounded with the Lastrea 

 vestita of J. Smith, nor with the Polystichum proliferum of Presl, the latter 

 of which it somewhat resembles except in being more rigid, in having its 

 fronds much denser, and in not being viviparous (producing young plants) 

 at their extremity. The fronds, which are produced from a tufted rhizome 

 (prostrate stem), are of a particularly dark green colour ; they are from 

 9in. to 12in. long and are borne on stipes (stalks) of similar length, 

 which are densely clothed with bright-coloured scales. These fronds are 

 almost spear-head-shaped and bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib) • their 

 oblong, pointed pinnae (leaflets) are furnished with pinnules (leafits) some 

 of which are auriculate (eared) at the base, while the majority of them 

 are wedge-shaped, with a sharp tooth at their point. The very distinct 

 and conspicuous sori (spore masses) are disposed in one row on each side 

 of the mid vein of the fertile pinnules. — Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 vi., t. 38. 



A. (Polystichum) YiYiparum— Pol-ys'-tich-uin ; vi-vip'-ar-um (pro- 

 ducing buds), Fee. 

 This stove species, better known under the names of Polystichum vivi- 

 parum and P. trapezioides, is a native of the West Indies, and is distinct 



