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THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF CULTIVATED FERNS. 
of Good Hope. Fronds ovate lanceolate, bipinnate, one and a half to two feet long, light green ; pinnules trapezio- 
oblong, sub-falcate, petiolate, upper base auriculate, lower truncate-cuneate, deeply serrate, with spinulose teeth 
on the margin. Eaehis and stipes scaly ; terminal, adherent to a short creeping rhizome. 
9. P. vestitum, Presl (Aspidium, Swartz). — A rigid evergreen greenhouse Fern, from New Zealand. Fronds 
somewhat lanceolate, a foot or more long, bipinnate ; pinna3 oblong- acute ; pinnules rather ovate, slightly auricu- 
late, cuneate at the base, only one or two pair distinct, the rest confluent with a sharp mucronate tooth on the 
apex. Eaehis and stipes thickly clothed with narrow scales. Fronds terminal, adherent to a tufted rhizome. 
This Fern is very similar to P. proliferum, but is more rigid, and not viviparous at the apex. 
10. P. proliferum, Presl (Aspidium, P. Brown). — A proliferous evergreen warm greenhouse Fern, from Van 
Diemen's Land. Fronds linear lanceolate, one and a half to two feet long, bipinnate, dull green, and proliferous on 
the apex ; pinnules oblong-ovate, obtuse, sub- falcate, petiolulate, slightly auriculate on the superior base, 
obliquely truncate-cuneate below, and bluntly dentate on the margin. Eaehis and stipes paleaceous ; terminal, 
adherent to a thick tufted rhizome. 
11? P. drepaniim* Presl (Aspidium, Swartz). — An ornamental evergreen warm greenhouse species, from 
Madeira. Fronds rather ovate-acuminate, one and a half to two feet long, dark green, bipinnate ; pinnse 4-6 
inches long ; pinnules lanceolate-falcate, auriculate, pinnatifid, inferior ones distant, cuneate at the base, superior 
ones confluent, that next the rachis on the upper side longest, the segments all acutely toothed. Eaehis and 
stipes paleacous ; terminal, adherent to a fasciculated erect rhizome. 
12. P. annulum, Presl (Aspidium, Swartz; A. ketevirens of gardens). — A robust growing evergreen warm 
greenhouse Fern, from Madeira. Fronds deltoid, tripinnate, two and a half or three feet high, bright green ; 
pinnules oblong-lanceolate-acute, pinnatifid, with serrate-mucronate, rather ovate segments. Fronds terminal, 
adherent to a scaly creeping rhizome. Stipes densely scaly, with a few scales scattered on the rachis. 
13. P. capense, J. Smith (Aspidium, Swartz; A. coriaceum of gardens). — A large 
growing evergreen warm greenhouse Fern, from the Cape of Good Hope. Fronds glabrous, 
deltoid, tripinnate, deep green, two and a half to three and a half feet long ; pinnules oblong- 
lanceolate-acute, pinnatifid, cuneate at the base, with obtuse dentate segments. Sori large. 
Indusium deciduous. Fronds lateral, adherent to a decumbent, thick, densely scaly, coespitose 
rhizome. 
14. P. coniifolium, Presl (Aspidium, Wallich). — A rough-looking evergreen stove species, 
a native of Ceylon, the East Indies, and the Philippine Islands. Fronds deltoid, tri-quadri- 
pinnate, two and a half feet high, dark green ; pinnules oblong-ovate, acute, pinnatifid, 
cuneate at the base, with spinose-mucronate teeth on the margin. Sori copious throughout 
the whole frond. Indusium reniform. Fronds lateral, adherent to a small creeping rhizome. 
15. P. aristatum, Presl (Aspidium, Swartz). — A rigid evergreen warm greenhouse Fern, 
from New Zealand and Norfolk Island. Fronds deltoid, bi-tri-pinnate, one and a half foot 
long, bright green ; pinnules sub-rhomboidal or oblong-obtuse, pinnatifid, with mucronate 
dentate segments, largest next the rachis. Stipes scaly at the base. Fronds lateral, or 
terminal, adherent to a creeping rhizome. This species is veiy similar to P. coniifolium, 
but is a dwarfer growing plant, more rigid, with the fronds more compact and leafy, the 
spore-cases being terminal and the indusium reniform. 
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(flYCLOPELTIS, /. Smith. — Name derived from hjJdos, a circle, and peltc, a small 
(y buckler, alluding to the indusium. 
Sori round, biserial medial or terminal. Indusium orbicular, peltate. Veins diehoto- 
mously branched ; venules direct, free, the anterior and exterior one of each fascicle sorife- 
rous. — The species on which this genus was founded, was formerly associated with Lastrea, 
but its round sori and large peltate indusium, similar to Polystichum, are quite at variance 
with that genus. Its glabrous pinna? articulated with the rachis, bring it near to Nephro- 
lepis, from which it is readily known by its habit and by its having a peltate indusium and J 
round sori. Fig. 64 represents a pinna of C. semicordata (nat. size). 
1. C. semicordata, J. Smith (Aspidium, Swartz; Lastrea, PresT). — An ornamental 
shining evergreen stove Fern, from Jamaica and other West Indian Islands. Fronds lanceo- 
late, pinnate, bright shining green, two to three feet long ; pinnae glabrous, falcate lanceo- 
late, sessile, 4-5 inches long, irregularly cordate or auriculate at the base, and articulated 
* This species is not very commonly cultivated, although it has been frequently introduced. There appears to he some doubt as 
to its nomenclature. "We are assured by the Rev. W. "W. Spicer — a gentleman possessing botha scientific and practical knowledge 
of Ferns, and who has imported it from Madeira, and cultivated it for several years — that it is destitute of an indusium, aud conse- 
quently ie a true Polypodium, although possessing the habit and aspect of a Polystichum. Mr. Henderson, of "Wentworth, also 
informs us, that he has examined the fronds in all stages of growth, without being able to discern any trace of indusium ; and we 
can state the same, both with reference to fresh fronds kindly forwarded by Mr. Henderson, and our own dried specimens, which, 
though loaded with fructifications, present no trace of indusium. Nevertheless, Swartz describes it as having an indusium, which 
he describes as being minute and cordate-subrotund. "We have followed Presl in placing it provisionally in Polystichum, in order 
to afford opportunity for further examination. 
Fig 64. 
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