A SPLENIUM. 



539 



A. (Euasplenium) fejeense— Eu-as-ple'-m-um ; fe-je-en'-se (Fijian), 

 Brackenridge. 



This stove species, native of Fiji, Samoa, and Aneitum, is ot singular 

 habit, for its entire (undivided) fronds, lift, to 2ft. long and about ljin. 

 broad, are produced from a wide-climbing rhizome (underground stem) and 

 borne on stalks Bin. long and scaly below. These curious fronds are of 

 a sub-coriaceous (almost leathery) texture, and are caudate or acuminate 

 (ending in a tail-like process) and often proliferous at the extremity. The 

 sori (spore masses) reach from the midrib nearly to the edges of the fronds, 

 which are smooth. — Hooker, Species Filicum, Hi., p. 87. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, i., p. 130. 



A. Fernandesianum — Fer-nand-e-sl-a'-num (from Juan Fernandez). One 

 of the most distinct varieties of A. lunulatum. 



A. (Darea) ferulaceum — Da'-re-a ; fer-uW-ce-um (Fennel-leaved), 

 Moore. 



This beautiful, stove Fern, native of the Andes of Ecuador and New 

 Granada, is undoubtedly the most finely-divided species belonging to the 

 genus and possesses very little of the general appearance of an Asplenium. 

 Its fronds, which are of a dark yet pleasing colour, are minutely divided 

 (Fig. 92) and resemble much more those of the rare and beautiful Gymno- 

 gramme Pearcei, or those of the well-known Pteris scaberula, than of any 

 other Asplenium. These fronds, which spring from the crown of a short, 

 upright caudex (stem), thus making a miniature Tree Fern, are from 1ft. to 

 2ft. long and 9in. to 12in. broad; they are borne on erect, naked, pale green 

 stalks 6in. to 12in. long, and are somewhat egg-shaped, most of the pinna? 

 (leaflets) decreasing gradually upwards, the lowest ones being horizontal, or 

 even deflexed, and from Gin. to 9in. long and Sin. to Sin. broad. The 

 leaflets are divided into pinnules (leafits) which in their turn are sub- 

 divided into linear, slightly-flattened segments about lin. long, of a very 

 delicate and fine texture, and again pinnatifid (cut half-way to the midrib). 

 The ultimate lobes are reduced to mere thread-like organs Jin. long, and 

 the lateral and abundantly-produced sori (spore masses) are very small. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, iii., p. 216. 



