622 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



the lower ones deflexed (thrown back), blunt-pointed, and notched at their 

 edges, the upper side auricled (eared) and suddenly' narrowed at the base, 

 the lower one truncate in a straight line. The sori (spore masses) are 

 disposed in two unequal, parallel vows.— Hooker, Sp'ecies Filicum, iii., p. 139, 

 t. 188. Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, t. 133. 



A. (Darea) nOYae-caledoniae — Da'-re-a ; nov'-as-cal-ed-on'-i-a} (native 

 of New Caledonia), Hooker. 

 This pretty greenhouse species is of medium dimensions • it produces 

 tripinnate fronds 9in. to 12hi. long, 6in. to 9in. broad, borne on firm, 

 upright, naked stalks 6in. to 12in. long. The lower leaflets, of leathery 

 texture and deltoid (in shape of the Greek delta, A), are divided into 

 pinnules (leafits) of the same shape, which are in their turn cut into 

 segments of a rigid nature, scarcely flattened, about £m. long, and distantly 

 placed. The long and narrow sori (spore masses) are disposed on the margin 

 of the segments, which are of a peculiarly dark, shining-green colour— Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, hi., p. 213. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 132. 



A. obliquum— ob-li'-qu-um (oblique). A variety of A. obtusatum ; it is of 

 little horticultural value. 



A. (Euasplenium) oblongatum — Eu-as-ple'-m-um ; ob-lon-ga'-tum 

 (oblong), Mettenius. 

 This very distinct, stove species, native of Panama, appears to occupy 

 a position intermediate between A. alatum and A. rhizophorum. Like those of 

 these two species, its fronds are proliferous at their extremity ; they are 

 spear-shaped, about lift, long, borne on dark brown and distinctly-winged 

 stalks, and furnished with numerous sessile (stalkless), blunt leaflets of 

 a parchment-like texture and of light green colour. The spore masses are 

 disposed close to the midvein.— Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 484. 



A. (Euasplenium) obtusatum— Eu-as-ple'-ni-um ; ob-tu-sa'-tum (obtuse), 

 Forster. 



This is a very free-growing and perfectly evergreen, greenhouse species, 

 native of New Zealand and Australia, and somewhat resembling our Sea 

 Spleenwort (A. marinum). Its fronds, of a thick and fleshy nature, produced 



