648 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



toothed, and their base somewhat wedge-shaped (Fig. 127). The slender sori 

 (spore masses) reach nearly to the edge. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 235. 

 Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 290. 



A. (Athyrium) spinulosum— Ath-yr'-i-um ; spi-nul-o'-sum (slightly 

 spiny), Baker. 



This greenhouse species, native of Amurland, has fronds deltoid (in 

 shape of the Greek delta, A), 9in. to 12in. each way, borne on firm, erect, 

 straw-coloured stalks Gin. to 12m. long and more or less clothed throughout 

 with spear-shaped scales of a pale brown colour. These fronds, tri- or quadri- 

 pinnatifid (three or four times divided nearly to the midrib), are provided 

 with nine to twelve pairs of leaflets of a thin, papery texture, the lowest 

 much the largest : all are spear-shaped and cut clown into oblong, sharp - 

 pointed segments, which are sharply toothed. The sori (spore masses) are 

 usually round and covered with an egg-shaped involucre, and are disposed 

 from two to ten to a segment.— Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 225. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 134. 



A. (Euasplenium) splendens— Eu-as-ple' -ni- urn ; splen'-dens (splendid), 

 Kunze. 



A very rare, greenhouse species, native of Cape Colony. Its fronds, Gin. 

 to 12in. long, are borne on greenish stalks Gin. to 9in. long, furnished with 

 a few scales below ; they are bi- or tripinnate (twice or three times divided to 

 the midrib), the lower leaflets especially being cut into wedge-shaped segments 

 that are slightly lobed and sharply toothed round their outer edge. The 

 copious sori (spore masses), slender and irregular in shape, reach nearly from 

 the base to the tip of the segments. — Hooker, Species Filicum, hi., p. 168. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 134. 



A. (Diplazium) Sprucei— Dip-laz'-I-um ; Spru'-ce-i (Spruce's), Baker. 



A well-marked and distinct, stove species, native of the Andes of 

 Ecuador, and one which, from the very dark green colour of its fronds and 

 their papery texture, evidently grows in very damp places. Its fronds, 9in. 

 to 15in. long, lin. to 3in. broad, and borne on firm, erect stalks 6in. to 9in. 

 long, of a dark brown colour, are furnished with fifteen to twenty pairs of 



