630 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



long ; they are simple (undivided), terminating in a sharp point, but rounded 

 at the base, and their edge is slightly undulated and toothed upwards ; 

 occasionally they are lobed at the base. The linear sori ' (spore masses) 

 sometimes extend from the midrib to the edge.— Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 hi., p. 237. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 133. 



A. (Euasplenium) polyodon— Eu-as-ple' -ni-um ; pol'-y-od-on (many- 

 toothed), Forster. 



This very handsome, greenhouse species, native of New Zealand, is 

 rendered particularly attractive through the vivid green colour of its fronds, 

 2ft. long, produced from a creeping rhizome, and the conspicuous , nature 

 of its spore masses. The leaflets, fully 2in. long and of a leathery texture, 

 are broadly wedge-shaped at the base, deeply toothed on the margin, and 

 hairy. The sori (spore masses) are oblique, commencing at the midvein of 

 each leaflet and extending nearly to the edge, eventually becoming more 

 or less confluent— Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, v., t. 33b. 



A. polyphyllum — pol-ypn-vl'dum (many-leaved). Synonymous with 

 A. acuminatum. 



A. (Diplazium) polypodioides — Dip-laz'-i-um ; pol-yp-od-i-o-i'-des 

 (Polypod-like), Mettenius. 

 A very robust -growing, greenhouse species, native of Southern and 

 British India and found on the Himalayas up to an elevation of 8000ft. Its 

 ample fronds, fully 4ft. long and 2ft. broad, are produced from an erect, nearly 

 arborescent stem and borne on stout, green stalks 1ft. long or more. The 

 eight or nine leaflets with which they are furnished on each side of the 

 midrib are about 1ft. long and 6in. broad, of a thin, papery texture and 

 bright green colour ; they are divided into numerous pinnules (leafits) which 

 in their turn are cut into narrow-oblong and slightly-toothed lobes. The sori 

 (spore masses) fall distinctly short of the edge.— Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 iii., p. 257. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 293. 



A. (Darea) Powellii— Da'-re-a ; Pow-eir-i-i (Powell's), Baker. 



A very finely -divided, strong-growing, stove species, native of Samoa. 

 Its fronds are 2ft. to 3ft. long, 1ft. to lift, broad, five times pimiatifid (cut 



