494 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



and the fronds are fully developed the latter usually show a large terminal 

 pinna leaflet and three pairs of lateral ones, each of which is like the entire 

 frond of the simple form. The sori (spore masses), disposed on each side of 

 the midveins, reach from these to the edge of the pinnse.— Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, hi., p. 267. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 128. 



A. (Euasplenium) alternans— Eu-as-ple'-ni-um ; al-tern'-ans (alternated), 

 Wallich. 



This distinct and interesting, dwarf-growing, greenhouse species, native of 

 Kumaon, Simla, and which, according to Beddome, grows wild on the Himalaya 

 Mountains at an elevation of 6000ft., at first sight very much resembles our 

 own British Scale Fern, A. Ceterach {Ceterach officinarum), of which it 

 possesses all the outward appearance, cutting, &c, with the exception, how- 

 ever, of the dense scaly covering of the under-side that is quite characteristic 

 of the species above named. Its fronds, 6in. to Sin. long and lin. to l^in. 

 broad, are borne on tufted stipes (stalks) lin. to ^in. long and clothed with 

 linear (long and narrow) scales ; they are densely produced from a central 

 crown, and are oblong-spear-shaped and simply pinnatifid (once only divided 

 almost to the midrib). Their pinnae (leaflets), bluntly lobed and of a very 

 pleasing light green colour and almost leathery texture, reach down nearly 

 to the lower part of the stalks, the lower ones growing smaller gradually 

 and sometimes quite distinct. The sori (spore masses) are abundantly pro- 

 duced and of a nearly black colour. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iii., p. 92. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 128. Beddome, Ferns of British 

 India, t. 59. 



The most suitable places for this curious species are in the crevices of 

 rocks in the Fernery, but it must be situated where it is not brought into 

 immediate contact with drip or constant moisture ; it will be found to thrive 

 most luxuriantly when planted on stone with a little peat only. 



A. (Euasplenium) alterni folium — Eu-as-ple'-ni-um > al-tern-if-ol'-i-um 

 (alternate-leaved). Synonymous with A. germanicum. 



A. (Diplazium) ambiguum — Dip-laz'-i-um ; ani-big'-u-um (ambiguous). 

 A synonym of the better-known A. Sheplierdii. 



