A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
253 
yiKNlSCl\JM—conti?med. 
broad, are borne on stout, glossy, brownish stalks 1ft. to 
3ft. long. The leaflets, of a somewhat leathery texture, 
oblong-spear-shaped, with a heartr-shaped base, and sharp- 
pointed at the extremity, are loosely set lin. to Sin. apart; 
they are Gin. to 12in. long, ^in. to 2in. broad, finely toothed 
on the margin, very dark glossy green on the upper surface, 
and paler below, where the most beautiful venation, the 
principal attraction in the plant, is shown by alternate 
lines of very conspicuous ridges and furrows. The sori are 
disposed twelve to twenty between the midrib and the edge. 
Fig. 103. Meniscium simplex, a beautiful miniature species 
well suited for Fern=case culture. 
M. simplex. 
This charming, miniature species, is a native of Chusan, 
Hong-Kong, and Formosa. It is as totally different in 
habit and in general aspect as it is in size from any other 
species belonging to the genus. The barren and fertile 
fronds are similar in shape but entirely distinct : both are 
produced from a wide-creeping rhizome of a firm nature, 
and borne on slightly pubescent stalks 1ft. or more in length 
in the case of tiie fertile fronds, but only 4in. to 6in. long 
