A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
173 
BL,KCHN\JM—conthmed 
B. Lanceola. 
An interesting, -evergreen, greenhouse species, of dwarf 
habit, native of Tropical America. Its little undivided 
fronds, 4in. to Gin. long and ^in. broad, spear-shaped, and of 
a somewhat leathery texture, are borne on slender, erect 
stalks 2in. to 4in. long, and produced from a slender, creeping 
rhizome of stoloniferous nature — that is to say, at the point 
of junction between the crown and the roots the plant is 
provided with loose, trailing branches or shoots which take 
root at intervals, whence fresh buds are developed. The 
Fig. 79. Blechnum longifolium, a somewhat variable species 
from Tropical America and the West Indies. 
sori are disposed in a continuous line on each side of and 
close to the midrib. This pretty little species is particularly 
adapted for planting in Fern-cases, where it thrives 
admirably, and where the contrast between the bright dark 
green of the upper surface of its fronds and the con- 
tinuous central band of deep brown formed by the sori is 
very conspicuous and attractive. 
