POLYPODIACE.E— PTERIDE.E. 
XXXIV. PLATYLOMA, J. Smith. 
Sori linear-oblong, continuous, subsequently confluent, occupying a portion of the upper half of 
the venules, forming a broad marginal band. Indusimn narrow, attached transversely to the outer 
margin of the broad sporangiferous receptacle. Veins forked ; venules direct, their apices free and 
sporangiferous. Fronds from one to two feet long, pinnate bipinnate or tripinnate, glabrous pilose 
or squamiferous ; stipes generally ebeneous, pinna3 articulate with the rachis. — Name derived from 
platys, broad, and lomu, a margin ; in allusion to the broad marginal sori. 
The species arranged under this genus, with one or two exceptions, vary but little in habit from 
those of Adiantum. The principal technical distinction is in the presence of a broad sporangiferous 
receptacle, w’ith the margin of the frond slightly refiexed, and edged with a narrow linear indusium, 
which is continued, more or less, throughout every pinna or pinnule of the whole frond. Fig. 36 
represents a portion of the frond of Flatyloma falcata (med. size). 
1. P. ROTUxmiFOLiA, J. Smith (rxEiiis, Forster; Allosouus, 
Kunze). — A pretty evergreen greenhouse Fern, from New Zealand. 
Fronds linear, pinnate, one to one and a half foot long, reclining ; 
pinnDB glabrous, dull green, coriaceous, subrotund or oblong-elliptical, 
rather obtuse, cordate at the base, and slightly crenate at the margin. 
Eachis and stipes densely covered with brown scales ; lateral, adherent 
to a creeping rhizome. Sori linear, continuous, very broad ; indu- 
sium very narrow. This seems to merge insensibly into the next species. 
2. P. FALCATA, J. Smith (Ptekis, R. Brown; Allosouus, Kunze). 
— An ornamental evergreen greenhouse species, from New Holland. 
Fronds lanceolate, pinnate, one to two feet high, rather erect ; pinnas 
glabrous, coriaceous, linear-lanceolate, oblong, bluntly acuminate, 
falcate, cordate at the base, and of a dull green colour. Eachis and 
stipes squamiferous ; lateral, adherent to a creeping rhizome. Sori 
linear, continuous, very broad ; indusium very narrow. 
3. P. Brownii, j. Smith (Adiantum paradoxum, R. Brown ; 
Allosorus paradoxus, Kunze ; Pteris l.atizona, A. Cunninyham). 
— An ornamental evergreen greenhouse Fern, from New Holland and 
New' Zealand. Fronds ovate or ovate-oblong, erect, pinnate, one to 
two feet high, with from about seven to eleven large pinnse near the 
top ; pinnae alternate, cordato-oblong-lanceolate, somewhat oblique or subfalcate, thick, almost coriaceous, dull 
dark green above, paler and somewhat glaucous beneath. Sori broad, linear, continued along both sides of the 
pinnas from the base to the apex. Indusium very narrow'. Eachis and stipes purple-ebeneous, covered, the 
former especially, with appressed rust-coloured hair-like scales ; lateral, adherent to a short creeping rhizome. 
The younger immature fronds are simple and cordate ; and the stipes are two or three times as long as the leafy 
portion in the perfect fronds. This Fern has been recently imported from New Zealand by Messrs. Henderson, 
of the Edgew'are Eoad. 
4. P. teknifolia, j. Smith (Pteris, Cuvanilles ; Pell.33A, Link ; Pteris subvei;ticillatus, Swartz; Allo- 
soEus sueverticillatus, PresT). — A rather pendulous evergreen stove Fern, from Mexico. Fronds glabrous, 
bluish green, linear, pinnate, one to one and a half foot long, reclining ; pinnto coriaceous, opposite or alternate, 
sessile, trilobed, cordate at the base, with a cartilaginous margin. Sori linear, continuous; indusium very 
narrow. Eachis and stipes purple ; stipes pubescent, terminal, adherent to a short scaly creeping rhizome. 
6. P. Calomel.anos, j. Smith (Pteris, Swartz; Pella; A, Link; Allosorus, PresT). — A dwarf evergreen 
stove species, from the Cape of Good Hope. Fronds deltoid, bipinnate, about a foot long ; pinnules deltoid, 
coriaceous, quite smooth, glaucous, and of a bluish green colour, cordate at the base, subtrilobate, with a narrow 
cartilaginous margin. Stipes scaly near the base, terminal, adherent to a short creeping rhizome. Sori linear, 
continued round every fertile pinnule ; indusium very narrow. 
6. P. ATROPURPUREA, J. Smith (Pteris, Linncetis ; Pella;a, Link; Allosorus, Kunze). — [Plate V.] — An elegant 
dwarf evergreen frame or greenhouse species, native of North America. Fronds bluish green, ovate-lanceolate, 
bipinnate, six to ten inches long ; pinnules glabrous, oblong or ovate, obtuse, cordate at the base, terminal one 
elongate. Sori linear, continuous, forming a broad band ; indusium narrow. Eachis and stipes pubescent, 
terminal, adherent to a somewhat creeping rhizome. 
7. P. coRDATA, /. NwuVi (Pteris, Cavanilles ; Pellasa, ZfwA ; Allosorus, Pml). — A very elegant soft erect- 
growing deciduous greenhouse Fern, from Mexico. Fronds delicate, light green, oblong-acuminate, broad at the 
base, bipinnate, one and a half to two feet high; pinnules ovate, cordate-sagittate, membranous, and densely 
