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111^3- 
THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF CULTIVATED FERNS. 
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naturally divided into four sections, respectively designated by the names of the genera under which many of 
them originally stood. 
Sect. I.— Lindseoe, J. Smith. 
)ICTYOXIPHIUM, Hooker. — Name derived from diktyon, a net, and xiplws, a sword ; in allusion to the form 
of the frond, and its reticulated venation. 
Fronds of two kinds : the fertile contracted, with a somewhat revo- 
lute margin, soriferous on the upper half. Sori linear, continuous, 
forming a thick row of spore cases, occupying both margins. Indu- 
sium linear, continuous, attached to the sporangiferous recep- 
tacle, and opening from the upper surface of the frond, subsequently 
becoming quite rolled back by the swelling sori. Costa central, 
ebeneous, prominent. Veins internal, nearly uniform, compoundly 
anastomosing, with variously directed free veinlets, terminating 
in the areoles. Fronds simple, entire, linear-lanceolate, two to 
three feet long, and two to two and a half inches wide. Ehizome 
fasciculate, erect. — This very rare genus, of which only a solitary 
species is known, is a native of South America. It was originally 
discovered in the Isthmus of Panama. The species, which was 
introduced to Kew about four years since, is rather an erect-grow- 
ing plant, of distinct habit, the fronds somewhat resembling 
Drynaria irioides, but the structure of the sori is very remarkable. 
It is easily recognized from its congeners by a compound anasto- 
mosing venation, and by the indusium being attached beneath the 
sporangiferous receptacle (as in Lindscea), opening from above, 
exactly the reverse of Pteris. Fig. 68 represents the upper part 
of the fertile frond, with a small portion of the sterile one (both 
nat. size). 
1. D. panamense, Hooker. — A glabrous, and rather erect- 
growing evergreen stove Fern, from South America. Fronds 
simple, entire, linear-lanceolate, about two feet long, bright green, 
coriaceous, attenuated at the base, decurrent on the stipes ; which 
is short, scaly, and terminal, adherent to a fasciculate, erect 
rhizome. 
Fig. GS. 
Sori linear, continuous, rarely interrupted, produced on a transversely 
combined sporangiferous receptacle, on the apices of the venules. Special 
indusium linear, continuous, usually shorter than the indusiform margin. 
Costa exeentrie or wanting. Veins forked, radiating ; venules (sterile) 
direct, free. Fronds simple, cordate, pinnate or bipinnate, from six inches to 
two feet long, with oblong-dimidiate, lunate or nabellate pinna;, soriferous 
only on the apex and superior side, the margin usually entire, rarely 
dentate. — There are but few genera, excepting Adiantum and Tricho- 
manes, whose species can vie with these in elegance. Although abounding 
in tropical and sub-tropical countries, yet they have, until within a very 
recent period, been unknown in cultivation, being only found in herbaria. 
The characters by which they are known from allied genera are, the direct 
free veins, and unilateral sori. Fig. 69 represents the base of a pinna of 
L. trapaiformc (nat. size). 
1. L. stricta, Dryander. — A very neat-looking evergreen stove Fern, 
from Trinidad, and various parts of South America. Fronds slender, 
glabrous, bipinnate, one to two feet high, rather light green ; pinna; 
linear, narrow-lanceolate, nearly a foot long ; pinnules small, oblong- 
dimidiate, lower ones flabellate, imbricate, round at the apex, upper base 
truncate, and parallel with the rachis, which is of a rich brown colour. 
Fronds nearly all fertile throughout ; lateral, adherent to a short, rather 
slender creeping rhizome. This species has been in cultivation since 
1848. 
5| 2. L. trapcziformc, Dryander — A very elegant evergreen stove species, 
%. from French Guiana, and tho West and East Indies. Fronds glabrous, 
J^ bipinnate, one and a half foot long, bright green; pimue lanceolate, 
J V LNDSJEA, Dryander. — Name commemorative of Mr. Lindsey 
2^3 an English botanist, who wrote on the germination of mosses. 
