A Dictionary of Choice Ferns, 
293 
PKLiL, JE, A— conti/med. 
P long^imucronata. 
This is synonymous with F. mucronata. 
P. mucronata. 
This very pretty. North Americian, greenhouse species 
is also known under the nrimes of F. loncjimvcronatw and 
F. Wrighfiana. Its interesting fronds, deltoid and bipin- 
niate. Sin. to Gin long and lin. to Sin. broad, are produced 
from a short, thick, knotted rootstock that is densely chaffy 
with very narrow scales of a dark brown colour, and are 
borne on strong, erect, dark brown, polished stalks 2in. to 
4in. long. The leaflets of the barren fronds are almost 
stalkless, roundish or egg-shaped, rounded or even somewhat 
heart-shaped at the base, but provided with a minute, semi- 
transparent, sharp point, or mucro, at their extremity. 
Those of the fertile fronds are rolled in nearly to the mid- 
veins and therefore very narrow, often longer than the 
barren ones, curved upwards, and terminate in a sharp, 
mucronate point^ — hence the specific name. All are of a 
leathery texture and of a pale, glaucous-green colour on 
both surfaces. The sori are completely hidden by the broad, 
leathery involucre, w^hich is permanently rolled over them. 
P. ternifolia. 
An interesting and pretty species, native of Tropical 
America. The very elegant, pendulous fronds, 6in. to 12in. 
long, lin. to l^in. broad, and borne on tufted, erect, dark 
chestnut-brown stalks 2in. to 4in. long, polished above, but 
densely scaly at the base, are narrow-spear-shaped, and 
have from six to. twelve or more pairs of leaflets. These 
are always opposite, of a leathery texture, and beautiful 
glaucous-green in colour on each side; they are cleft down 
nearly to the base into three narrow, rigid segments, with 
inrolled edges, thus forming a sort of claw. The involucre 
is formed out of the edge of the frond, and remains rolled 
over the spores till they attain their full maturity. 
P. Wrig^htiana. 
Synonymous with P. mucronata. 
PHEGOPTERIS. See Polypodium. 
PHLEBODIUM. See Polypodium. 
PHYMATODES. See Polypodium. 
PLATYCERIUM. 
Elk's Horn and Stag's Horn Ferns {P I aty cerium) 
constitute a small family, well marked, throngh 
the repeatedly-forked character of the fertile fronds 
of most of the species resembling Stag's Horns. 
