162 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
ASPL,E>NUJM— continued. 
high, and of a papery texture, are composed of a triangular, 
sharp terminal lobe and of two large heart-shaped, pointed 
lateral ones, which are again sometimes bluntly, sometimes 
acutely, lobed at the base, and these basal lobes on each 
side overlap one another and the stalk. The very abundant 
sori affect the form of a narrow line about l^in. long, dis- 
posed on each vein, giving the fronds the appearance of 
being striped in long lines all over their under-surface. 
This pliant must not be confused with the West Indian 
Hemionitis palmata. Its has produced two quite distinct 
varieties : A, H. cristtum and A. H. multifidum. Fig. 74. 
A. incisum. 
This greenhouso species, somewhat resembling the 
British A. lanceolatum, is a native of Japan, where it 'S 
common ; also of Tsus-Sima, Chusan, and Western China. Its 
fronds. Sin. to 12in. long and l^in. to 2in. broad, are borne on 
tufted, polished stalks of a chestnut-brown colour and 2in. 
to Sin. long. The numerous leaflets, of a particularly thin, 
papery texture, are blunt in the lower part of the frond, 
whereas the central ones, lin. long and spear-shaped, are 
cut down to the midrib into numerous egg-shaped leafits 
conspicuously truncated at their base on the lower side and 
deeply pinnatifid. The linear-oblong sori are disposed one 
to each vein. This species is also known as A. elegantulum. 
A. longissimum. 
This beautiful, pendulous, stove species, native of Java, 
Borneo, Malacca, and the Mauritius, is the best of al' 
the family for growing in a large basket. Its very elegant 
fronds, 2ft. to 3ft. long and 4in. to Gin. broad, are borne on 
strong, blackish stalks Sin. to 12in. long and very flexible; 
they are furnished on each side of the midrib with numerous 
leaflets of a somewhat leathery texture and dark green in 
colour. The leaflets are stalkless and have their two sides 
nearly equal, with a distinct midrib, their edge slightly 
toothed, and their base often eared on both sides. The 
fronds are abundantly produced from a thick and slightly- 
creeping rhizome, so that, being an evergreen species, the 
plant is well furnished at all seasons with fronds which last 
a very long time. The numerous sori are disposed in two 
regular rows on each side of the midrib and reach nearly to 
the edge. 
A. lucidum. 
The plant which is extensively grown under this name for 
decoration is really a form of A. ohtusatum. 
