THE POLYPODIES. 
191 
great length of stem in this beautiful fern, the 
stem being sometimes twice as long as the leafy 
portion of the frond, the shape of which is trian- 
gular. The stem is exceedingly brittle and herba- 
ceous, and its lower portion is covered with light 
scales. The leafy part of the frond is in colour 
a light delicate green, and it has a peculiarly 
downy appearance. On each side of the rachis 
is a row of leaflets, shortening as they near the 
point of the frond. These leaflets are narrow and 
tapering, terminating in a point, and the lowest 
and longest pair stand on the rachis or midrib 
of the frond, quite distinct from the others ; but 
those on the upper portion of the frond are con- 
nected by a sort of leafy wing, which runs on each 
side of the rachis ; and in this way the leaflets 
become gradually merged, until the frond ends in 
a serrated point. One peculiarity about this fern 
must be noted. The lowest, and also the longest, 
pair of leaflets are turned downwards, their 
points being directed from the rachis obliquely 
towards the ground, giving a curious appearance 
to the frond. Along the entire length of each 
