Acrostichum
(from akros, outermost, and stichos, row; the disposition of the sori has been compared to the beginning of lines of verse). ORD. Filices. Including Aconiopteris, Chrysodium, Egenolfia, Elaphoglossum, Gymnopteris, Olfersia, Photinopteris, Paecilipteris, Polybotrya, Rhipidopteris, Soromanes, Stenochlaena, Stenosemia. A large and almost entirely tropical genus; it includes groups with a wide range in venation and cutting. Sori spread over the whole surface of the frond or upper pinnae, or occasionally over both surfaces. The species having long fronds are admirably suited for growing in suspended baskets, and the dwarfer sorts do well in Wardian cases. A compost of peat, chopped sphagnum, and sand, is most suitable. For general culture, see Ferns.
A. acuminatum (taper-pointed).* rhiz. thick, climbing. sti. 4in. to 6in. long, firm, erect, scaly throughout. barren fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, 1ft. or more broad, deltoid, bipinnate; upper pinnae oblong-lanceolate, slightly lobed, truncate on the lower side at the base, 2in. to 3in. long, 3/4in. to 1in. broad; lower pinnae, 6in. to 8in. long, 4in. to 5in. broad, with several small pinnules on each side; light green, with a firm texture. fertile fronds 1ft. long, deltoid, tripinnate. Brazil. Stove species. SYN. Polybotrya acuminatum. A. alienum (foreign). rhiz. woody. sti. 6in. to 18in. long, scaly downwards. barren fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, often 1ft. broad, the upper part deeply pinnatifid, with lanceolate lobes, the lower part pinnate, with entire or deeply pinnatifid lower pinnae. fertile fronds much smaller, with distant narrow linear or pinnatifid leafy pinnae. Tropical America. Stove species. SYN. Gymnopteris aliena.
A. apiifolium (Parsley-leaved).* cau. stout, woody, erect. sti. of barren fronds 2in. to 3in. long, erect, densely clothed with tomentum. barren fronds 4in. to 6in. each way, deltoid, tripinnate; pinnae close, only the lowest pair with pinnatifid pinnules, ultimate divisions oblong-rhomboidal, 1/4in. to 1/3in. long, the base cuneate, the outer edge slightly toothed. fertile fronds on a slender naked stem 6in. to 8in. long, the fronds panicled with a few distant, slender, simple, or compound branches. Philippine Islands, 1862. Stove species. SYN. Polybotrya apiifolia.
A. apodum (stemless).* cau. thick, woody, the scales dense, linear, brown, crisped. sti. tufted, very short, or obsolete. barren fronds 1ft. or more long, 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad, the apex acuminate, the lower part narrowed very gradually, the edge and midrib densely fringed with soft, short, brown hairs. fertile fronds much smaller than the barren ones. West Indies to Peru, 1824. Stove species. SYN. Elaphoglossum apodum.
A. appendiculatum (appendaged).* rhiz. firm, woody. barren fronds 6in. to 18in. long, 4in. to 8in. broad, simply pinnate. sti. 3in. to 6in. long, erect, naked, or slightly scaly; pinnae 2in. to 4in. long, 3/8in. to 3/4in. broad, the edge varying from sub-entire to cut halfway down to the midrib of the blunt lobes, the upper side often auricled, the lower one obliquely truncate, dark green. fertile fronds narrower, on a longer spike, the pinnae roundish or oblong, often distinctly stalked. India, &c., 1824. Stove species. SYN. Egenolfia appendiculata.
A. aureum (golden).* cau. erect. sti. erect, 1ft. to 2ft. long, strong. fronds 2ft. to 6ft. long, 1ft. to 2ft. broad, the upper pinnae fertile, rather smaller than the barren ones, which are usually stalked, ligulate oblong, 3in. to 1ft. long, 1/2in. to 3in. broad, acute or blunt, sometimes retuse with a mucro; edge quite entire, base sub-cuneate. Widely distributed in the tropics of both hemispheres, 1815. An evergreen aquatic stove species, requiring abundance of heat and moisture. SYN. Chrysodium aureum.
A. auritum (eared).* cau. erect, woody. barren fronds with a stipe 6in. to 9in. long, deltoid, 8in. to 12in. each way, ternate, the central segments deeply pinnatifid, with lanceolate entire lobes; the lateral ones unequal sided, with lanceolate oblong-lobed lower pinnules. fertile fronds with a stem 12in. to 18in. long, deltoid, with distant linear pinnae half line broad; upper simple, lower pinnatifid. Philippine Islands. Stove species. SYN. Stenosemia aurita.
A. axillare (axillary). rhiz. slender, wide scandent. barren fronds 6in. to 18in. long, about 1in. broad, simple, the point bluntish, the edge entire, the lower half tapering very gradually to the base or short stem. fertile fronds 6in. to 12in. long, one to three lines broad, flexuose, on a stem 1in. to 6in. long. Himalayas. Greenhouse species. SYN. Chrysodium axillare.
A. barbatum (bearded). Synonymous with A. scolopendrifolium.
A. bifurcatum (twice-forked). sti. densely tufted, 2in. to 4in. long, slender, stramineous, naked. fronds 3in. to 4in. long, about 1/2in. broad, pinnate; lower pinnae of fertile fronds two or three cleft, with linear divisions; those of the barren pinnae broader, and not so deep. St. Helena. Greenhouse species. SYN. Polybotrya bifurcata.
A. Blumeanum (Blume's).* rhiz. woody, wide climbing. sti. of barren fronds 6in. long, scaly. barren fronds 1ft. to 3ft. long, 1ft. or more broad, with numerous sessile pinnae on each side, which are 4in. to 6in. long, 1in. broad; apex acuminate, the edge slightly toothed; base rounded. fertile fronds with distant pinnae 4in. to 8in. long, 1/8in. to 1/4in. broad. Assam. Greenhouse species. SYN. Chrysodium Blumeanum.
A. callaefolium (Calla-leaved). A form of A. latifolium.
A. canaliculatum (channeled).* rhiz. woody, wide climbing, spinulose and scaly. sti. 1ft. or more long, scaly throughout. fertile fronds 2ft. to 3ft. long, 12in. to 18in. broad, tripinnate; lower barren pinnae, 6in. to 9in. long, 4in. to 5in. broad; pinnules lanceolate, stalked, with oblong segments, both surfaces naked; fertile pinnules close, the segments 1/4in. long, bearing three to four sessile balls of sori. Venezuela. Stove or greenhouse species. SYN. Polybotrya canaliculata.
A. caudatum (tailed). A synonym of A. petiolosum.
A. cervinum (stag-horned).* rhiz. woody, creeping, scaly. sti. 1ft. or more long, scaly. barren fronds 2ft. to 4ft. long, pinnate; pinnae 4in. to 9in. long, 1in. to 2in. broad, entire or nearly so, unequal at the base; fertile pinnae distant, linear, lanceolate, bipinnate, with short spreading sub-cylindrical pinnules. Brazil, 1840. Stove species. SYN. Olfersia cervina.
A. conforme (conformed). rhiz. wide creeping, scaly. sti. 1in. to 12in. long, firm, erect, stramineous, naked or slightly scaly. fronds 2in. to 9in. long, 1/2in. to 2in. broad, acute or bluntish, the base cuneate or spathulate, the edge entire. barren fronds narrower than the fertile one. A. laurifolium, A. obtusilobum, and several others, are identical with the foregoing. Tropical America, also in the Old World. Stove species. SYN. Elaphoglossum conforme. A. crinitum (hairy).* cau. woody, erect. sti. of barren fronds 4in. to 8in. long, densely clothed with long scales. barren fronds 9in. to 18in. long, 4in. to 9in. wide, broadly oblong; apex blunt, base rounded, edge entire and ciliated, texture subcoriaceous, both sides scattered over with scales like those of the stipes. fertile fronds like the others, but much smaller, the stipes longer. West Indies, &c., 1793. Stove species. SYNS. Chrysodium and Hymenodium crinitum.
A. cylindricum (cylindrical). Synonymous with A. osmundaceum.
A. Dombeyanum (Dombey's). A form of A. lepidotum.
A. flagelliferum (rod-shaped). rhiz. woody, creeping. sti. of barren fronds 6in. to 12in. long, nearly naked. barren fronds simple or with one to three pairs of pinnae, the terminal one ovate lanceolate, entire or repand, often elongated and rooting at the point, the lateral ones 3in. to 6in. long, 1in. to 2in. broad; fertile pinnae 2in. to 3in. long, about 1/2in. broad. India, &c., 1828. Stove species. SYN. Gymnopteris flagellifera.
A. foeniculaceum (Fennel-leaved).* rhiz. slender, creeping. sti. distant, slender, 2in. to 8in. long, scaly. barren fronds 1in. to 2in. broad, usually dichotomously forked, with filiform divisions. fertile fronds 3/8in. broad, two-lobed. Andes of Ecuador. Stove species. (For culture, see A. peltatum). SYN. Rhipidopteris foeniculaceum.
A. Herminieri (Herminier's).* rhiz. stout, creeping. sti. very short, or none. barren fronds 1 1/2ft. to 3ft. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, simple, acuminate, the lower part narrowed very gradually. fertile fronds short-stalked, 3in. to 4in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad. Tropical America, 1871. Stove species. SYN. Elaphoglossum Ilerminieri. A. heteromorphum (various-formed). rhiz. slender, wide creeping, scaly. sti. 1in. to 3in. long, slender, slightly scaly. barren fronds 1 1/2in. to 2in. long, 3/4in. to 1in. broad, simple, bluntish, the base rounded, both surfaces scattered over with linear dark castaneous scales. fertile fronds much smaller, and the stipes much longer. Columbia and Ecuador. Stove species. SYN. Elaphoglossum heteromorphum.
A. Langsdorffii (Langsdorff's). Synonymous with A. muscosum.
A. latifelium (broad-fronded).* rhiz. thick, woody, creeping, scaly. sti. 6in. to 12in. long, firm, erect, naked, or scaly. barren fronds 9in. to 18in. long, 2in. to 4in. broad, simple, acute, gradually narrowed below, entire; texture leathery. fertile fronds considerably narrower than the barren ones. A. longifolium, A. callaefolium, &c., are only varieties of this species. Mexico, Brazil, &c. Stove species. SYN. Elaphoglossum latifolium.
A. lepidotum (scaly).* rhiz. thick, woody, very scaly. sti, 1in. to 3in. long, firm, scaly throughout. barren fronds 3in. to 6in. long, about 1/2in. broad, simple, usually blunt, the base cuneate or rather rounded, both surfaces and midrib very scaly. A. Dombeyanum, of garden origin, is a varietal form of this, of which there are several others. Tropical America. Stove species. SYN. Elaphoglossum lepidotum.
A. longifolium (long-leaved). A form of A. latifolium.
A. Meyerianum (Meyer's). Synonymous with A. tenuifolium.
A. muscosum (mossy).* rhiz. woody, densely scaly. sti. 4in. to 6in. long, firm, clothed with large pale brown scales. barren fronds 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, simple, narrowed at both ends; upper surface slightly scaly; lower quite hidden by imbricated brownish scales. fertile fronds much smaller than the others, the stipes longer. Madeira. Greenhouse species. SYN. A. Langsdorffii.
A. Neitnerii. Synonymous with A. quercifolium.
A. nicotianaefolium (Tobacco-leaved).* rhiz. woody, wide creeping, scaly. sti. 1 1/2ft. to 2ft., scaly below. barren fronds 1ft. to 3ft. long, 1ft. or more broad, with a large terminal pinna, and one to three lateral pairs, which are 6in. to 9in. long, 1in. to 3in. broad, acuminate, entire, or nearly so, the base slightly rounded, fertile pinnae distant, 3in. to 4in. long 3/4in. broad. Cuba, &c. Stove species. SYN. Gymnopteris nicotianaefolium.
A. osmundaceum (Osmunda-like).* rhiz. woody, wide scandent, scaly. sti. 12in. to 18in. long, firm, erect, scaly at the base. barren fronds ample, bi-or tripinnate; the lower pinnae 1ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 8in. broad; pinnules stalked, lanceolate, with closely set sub-entire segments, of a light green colour; both surfaces naked. fertile fronds nearly or quite as large as the barren ones; segments linear cylindrical, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long. Tropical America. Stove species. SYNS. A. cylindricum, and Polybotrya osmundaceum.
A. paleaceum (chaffy). Synonymous with A. squamosum.
A. peltatum (peltate-fronded).* rhiz. slender, wide creeping. sti. distant, slender, 1in. to 4in. long, scaly throughout. barren fronds 1in. to 2in. each way, repeatedly dichotomously forked, with narrow linear ultimate divisions, quarter to half line broad. fertile fronds 1/2in. broad, often two-lobed. West Indies. Stove or greenhouse species. This elegant little fern requires a liberal supply of water all the year round, and is best grown in a well drained pan of good fibrous peat, leaf soil, and sand, with some nodules of sandstone raised above the rim of the pan; do not disturb it more than is necessary. SYN. Rhipidopteris peltata.
A. petiolosum (petioled). rhiz. woody, wide scandent. sti. woody, erect, scaly at the base. fronds bipinnate, or tripinnatifid, 2ft. to 4ft. long, 1ft. to 3ft. broad, deltoid; the upper barren pinnae lanceolate, pinnatifid, the longest sometimes 18in. long, and 6in. to 10in. broad; pinnules with long falcate lobes reaching half-way down to the midrib, both surfaces naked; fertile pinnules very narrow, and dangling, continuous or beaded. West Indies, Mexico, &c. Stove species. SYNS. Polybotrya and A. caudatum. A. piloselloides (mouse ear-leaved). Synonymous with A. spathulatum.
A. platyrhynchos (broad-beaked). sti. tufted, scarcely any. fronds 12in. to 16in. long, 1in. broad, simple. sori in a patch at the apex, 1in. to 2in. long, 3/8in. broad, which does not reach to the entire edge; the lower part narrowed gradually, with naked surfaces, and a coriaceous texture. Philippines. Stove species. SYN. Hymenolepis platyrhynchos.
A. quercifolium (Oak-leaved).* rhiz. stout, wide creeping. sti. of barren fronds 1in. to 2in. long, clothed with brownish hairs. barren fronds 3in. to 4in. long, 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad, the terminal pinnae with blunt rounded lobes. fertile fronds with a terminal pinna, 1in. to 2in. long, one line broad, and a pair of smaller lateral ones, with slender stipes 6in. to 9in. long, hairy at the base. Ceylon. Stove species. SYNS. A. Neitnerii (of gardens), Gymnopteris quercifolia.
A. scandens (climbing).* rhiz. woody, wide climbing. sti. 3in. to 4in. long, firm, erect, naked. fronds 1ft. to 3ft. long, 1ft. or more broad, simply pinnate; barren pinnae, 4in. to 8in. long, 3/4in. to 1 1/2in. broad, acuminate, the edge thickened and serrulate, the base cuneate, sessile, or slightly stalked, articulated; fertile pinnae, 6in. to 12in. long, one and a half to two lines broad, the lower ones distant. Himalayas, &c., 1841. Stove or greenhouse species. SYN. Stenochlaena scandens.
A. scolopendrifolium (Scolopendrium-fronded).* rhiz. woody, creeping, scaly. sti. 4in. to 12in. long, firm, erect, densely clothed with blackish scales. barren fronds often 1ft. long, 1 1/2in. to 3in. broad, simple, acute, the base narrowed gradually; edge and midrib scaly. fertile fronds much smaller than the barren ones. Guatemala, &c. Stove species. SYN.
A. barbatum.
A. serratifolium (serrate-fronded). rhiz. woody, short creeping. sti. of barren fronds 12in. to 18in. long, slightly scaly. barren fronds 2ft. long, 6in. to 12in. broad, with numerous sessile pinnae on each side, 3in. to 6in. long, 3/4in. to 1 1/2in. broad, incisocrenate, the base cuneate; fertile pinnae distant, 2in. to 3in. long, 1/4in. to 1/2in. broad, blunt, entire. Venezuela, &c. Stove species. SYN. Chrysodium serratifolium.
A. simplex (simple-fronded). rhiz. woody, creeping, scaly. sti. 1in. to 4in. long, firm, erect, naked. barren fronds 4in. to 12in. long, about 1 1/2in. broad, very acute, the lower part narrowed very gradually. fertile fronds narrower than the barren ones, with longer stipes. Cuba to Brazil, 1798. Stove species. SYN. Elaphoglossum simplex.
A. sorbifolium (Service-leaved).* rhiz. thick, woody, often 30ft. to 40ft. long, clasping trees like a cable, sometimes prickly. fronds 12in. to 18in. long, 6in. to 12in. broad, simply pinnate; barren pinnae 4in. to 6in. long, about 1/2in. broad, three to twenty on each side, articulated at the base, entire or toothed; fertile pinnae 1in. to 2in. apart, 2in. to 4in. long, about 1/4in. broad. West Indies, 1793. There are several varieties of this species, chiefly differing in the number of pinnae. Stove species. SYN. Stenochlaena sorbifolia.
A. s. cuspidatum (cuspidate).* This is only a variety of the above species with long-stalked, ligulate-cuspidate pinnae; but it is usually regarded as a distinct species in gardens.
A. spathulatum (spoon-shaped). sti. tufted, 1in. to 2in. long, firm, erect, scaly. barren fronds 1/2in. to 4in. long, 1/4in. to 1/2in. broad, obovate-spathulate, blunt, tapering narrowly or gradually at the base, with a coriaceous texture; both surfaces and the margins copiously scaly. fertile fronds smaller than the barren, with longer stipes. Tropical America, South Africa, &c. Stove species. SYN. A. piloselloides.
A. spicatum (spiked). rhiz. woody, short creeping. sti. 1in. to 2in. long, firm. fronds 6in. to 18in. long, 1/2in. to 1in. broad, the upper part contracted and fertile, entire, the lower part narrowed very gradually. Himalayas, &c. Greenhouse species. SYN. Hymenolepis brachystachys.
A. squamosum (scaly).* rhiz. woody, densely scaly. sti. 2in. to 4in. long, densely clothed with pale or dark-coloured scales. barren fronds 6in. to 12in. long, about 1in. broad, simple, acute, the base narrowed gradually; both sides matted, and the edge densely ciliated with reddish scales. fertile fronds as long as the barren ones, but much narrower, the stipes much longer. Widely distributed in both hemispheres. Stove or greenhouse species. SYN. A. paleaceum.
A. subdiaphanum (semi-transparent).* cau. woody, erect. sti. tufted, 2in. to 6in. long, firm, erect, scaly. barren fronds 4in. to 8in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, simple, both ends narrowed, the edge entire. fertile fronds much narrower, on longer stipes. St. Helena. Greenhouse species. SYN. Aconiopteris subdiaphana.
A. subrepandum (slighty-waved).* rhiz. woody, wide-creeping. sti. of barren fronds stout, erect, nearly naked. barren fronds from 1ft. to 2ft. long, 2in. to 12in. broad, copiously pinnate, with linear-oblong entire or subrepand pinnae on each side, which are sometimes 6in. to 8in. long, and 2in. broad. fertile fronds like the others, but smaller. Isle of Luzon, &c. Stove species. SYN. Gymnopteris subrepanda.
A. taccaefolium (Tacca-leaved).* cau. woody, densely scaly. sti. of barren fronds 1in. to 4in. long, scaly. barren fronds from 1ft. to 2ft. long, 3in. to 12in. broad, simple, oblong-lanceolate, entire, copiously pinnate, with oblong-lanceolate pinnae, 1in. to 6in. long, 1/2in. to 1 1/2in. broad, the upper ones narrowly decurrent, the lower ones forked at the base on the under side. fertile fronds simple, 6in. to 12in. long, 1/8in. broad, or pinnate, with forked linear pinnae. The three-lobed form of this species is sometimes known as A. trilobum. Philippines. Stove species. SYN. Gymnopteris taccaefolia.
A. tenuifolium (narrow-fronded).* rhiz. wide scandent, woody, slightly scaly. barren fronds simply pinnate, the stipes 4in. to 6in. long, naked, firm, erect, the fronds 3ft. to 5ft. long, 12in. to 18in. broad; pinnae 6in to 9in. long, 3/4in. to 1 1/2in. broad, acuminate, the edge thickened and serrulate, short-stalked. fertile fronds bipinnate, with longer stipes; pinnae long-stalked, with numerous distant pinnules. South Africa. Stove or greenhouse species. SYNS. A. Meyerianum and Stenochlaena tenuifolia.
A. trilobum (three-lobed). A form of A. taccaefolium.
A. villosum (hairy).* rhiz. woody, densely scaly. sti. 2in. to 4in. long, slender, densely clothed with scales. barren fronds 6in. to 9in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, acute, the lower part narrowed gradually; both surfaces scaly, and the edge more or less ciliated. fertile fronds much smaller than the others. Mexico, &c. Stove species.
A. viscosum (clammy).* rhiz. woody, creeping, densely scaly. sti. 3in. to 6in. long, firm, erect, scaly, often viscous. barren fronds 6in. to 12in. long, 1/2in. to 1in. broad, simple, acute, the lower part narrowed gradually; both surfaces more or less viscid, and minutely scaly. fertile fronds smaller, with longer stipes. Tropical America and the tropics of the Old World, 1826. Very variable in form. Stove species.