664 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



typical species, is rendered still more striking by the presence of numerous 

 young plants covering the upper surface of the mature fronds ; and as the 

 rudimentary or first fronds of these young plants are very broad and entire 

 (undivided), the contrast is very effective, The abundant sori (spore masses) 

 are linear (long and narrow) and disposed one on the margin of each 

 segment. 



A. (Euasplenium) YUlcanicum — Eu-as-ple'-ni-um ; vul-ca/-nic-um 

 (volcanic), Blume. 



A very distinct, stove species, native of the Malay Islands, with fronds 

 lft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to Sin. broad, and borne on firm, naked stalks 6in. to 

 9in. long and of a peculiar grey colour. They are oblong-spear-shaped and 

 composed of a linear terminal leaflet, usually proliferous at its extremity, and 

 of from six to twelve lateral ones on each side of the midrib. These leaflets 

 are of a thin, papery texture and distinctly stalked, 4in. to Gin. long, barely 

 lin. broad, sharp-pointed, and have their edge slightly notched or toothed. 

 The sori (spore masses), very regular and parallel in their disposition, fall 

 short of the edge. A. heterodon is synonymous with this species : it is said to 

 differ by its stouter habit, broader leaflets, and fewer spore masses. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, iii., p. 102. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 135. 



A. (Euasplenium) Wightianum — Eu-as-ple'-ni-um ; Wight-i-a'-num 

 (Wight's), Wallich. 

 This very distinct, stove species, with barren and fertile fronds totally 

 dissimilar, is a native of India, where, according to Beddome, it is found on 

 the Anamallay and Pulney Mountains and in the Bolamputty Valley, in the 

 Coimbatore Hills, growing on rocks and trees in moist forests on the banks 

 of rivers at elevations varying between 2000ft, and 4000ft. Its fertile fronds, 

 lft. to ljift. long, are furnished with distinctly- stalked leaflets of a leathery 

 texture, 4in. to Gin. long, coarsely but not deeply toothed. In the case of 

 the barren fronds, the leaflets are much larger, deeply and irregularly pinnatifid 

 (cut half-way to the midrib), with the segments toothed. The sori (spore 

 masses) are linear (long and narrow), distant, and extend from the midrib 

 nearly to the margin of the segments. — Hooker, Species Filicum, hi., p. 105. 

 Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, t, 126. 



