632 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



colour, narrow and oblique, fall snort of the edge ; sometimes one or two may 

 be seen almost parallel with the midrib on the lower side of it. — Hooker, 

 Spmes Filicum, hi., p. 129. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 133. 

 Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, v., t. 31a. 



A. (Euasplenium) pumilum — Eu-as-ple'-ni-um ; pu'-mil-um (small), 

 Sicartz. 



This rare and very pretty, stove species, native of the West Indies, is 

 thoroughly distinct through the semi-transparency of its triangular fronds, 

 4in. to 6in. each way ; their upper part is only sinuated, while the lower 

 part is cut clown to the midrib into distinct leaflets, of which the lowest 

 pair are much the largest, being sometimes 2in. long. The sori (spore masses) 



are small, covered with red 

 hairs, and occasionally be- 

 come confluent (joining one 

 another). — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, hi., p. 174. Nichol- 

 son, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 i.,p. 133. Lowe, Ferns British 

 and Exotic, v., t. 31b. 



A. rachirhizon-rach-irh- 



i'-zon (rachis -rooting). A 

 variety of A. rhizophorum. 



A, (Diplazium) radi- 



Cans — Dip-laz'-i-um ; ra- 



di'-cans (rooting), Schkuhr. 

 A gigantic, stove species, 



Fig. 122, Asplenium radicans c , 



(much reduced). natlve of bouth America, 



with fronds 3ft. to oft. long 



and 2ft. to 3ft. broad, borne on strong, erect stipes (stalks) 1ft. to 2ft. 

 long and scaly below, produced from an erect caudex forming quite an 

 arborescent stem (Fig. 122). The lower leaflets are from 1ft. to lift, 

 long, 6in. to Sin. broad, and divided into numerous spear-shaped, sessile 

 pinnules (stalkless leaflts) of a papery texture : the upper leafits are entire ; 



