A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
315 
PTERIS — continued. 
terminal and the upper lateral leafiets entire, and the lower 
lateral ones divided into two or four spear-shaped leafits 
on their lower side. It then forms a beiautiful object, as 
the fronds, thick and of la very leiathery texture, are of 
a bright green, colour, and their centre, as well as that of 
their leaflets and leafits, is ornamented with a broad band 
of white, more intense in the middle and gradually lading 
towards the edges. The spore masses form a continuous 
line extending from the base to the tip of the divisions. 
P. quadriaurita. 
This species, which thrives in the cool and the warm 
house alike, possess a very wide range of habitat, and is 
accordingly very variable in habit and in dimensions. It 
is found all round the world within the Tropics, and a little 
beyond them. Its fronds vary from Gin. to 2ft. or 3ft. in 
length and from 4in. to 12in. in breadth; they are borne on 
naked or slightly rough, straw-coloured stalks usually 1ft. 
to 2ft. long, and consist of a terminal leaflet cut down 
nearly to the rachis into numerous close, parallel, narrow- 
oblong lobes, and of several pairs of lateral leaflets Gin. to 
12in. or more in length, the lowest usually compound, with 
one or two similar but smaller leaflets branching from them 
at the base on the lower side. The texture of the fronds is 
somewhat leathery, and they are naked on both surfaces. 
The sori are often continuous along the whole margin of the 
segments. 
P. q. ar^yrsea. 
A very handsome and deservedly popular Fern, intro- 
duced from Central India. Its fronds, including the stalks, 
often attain 4ift. or 5ft. in length and 2|ft. in breadth. 
The leaflets, which end in a tail-like point, and their leafits, 
which are usually blunt, are regularly adorned in their 
centre with a broad band of purest white, which forms a 
most pleasing contrast with the bright green colour of the 
other parts of the plant. 
P. scaberula. 
This exceedingly pretty, compact-growing, greenhouse 
species, native of New Zealand, is much more like a finely- 
cut Davallia than a Pteris. The plant is provided with 
wide-creeping rhizomes of a wiry nature, from which its 
spear-shaped and finely-divided fronds, borne on somewhat 
rough stalks Gin. to 12in. long, are produced. 
P. serrulata. 
Probably this is the commonest and best-known species 
in the genus, as it is also the most useful for decorative 
purposes. It is a greenhouse Fern of the easiest culture. 
