Antrophyum
(from antron, a cavern, and phuo, to grow; referring to its place of growth). Including Polytaenium. ORD. Filices. A small genus of stove ferns, very rarely seen in cultivation, all with simple fronds, of firm but fleshy texture, and copious, uniform, hexagonal areolae. Sori carried along the veins, imperfectly reticulated. For culture, &c., see Ferns. A. cayennense (Cayenne). sti. 1in. to 4in. long. fronds 6in. to 9in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, lanceolate-oblong, narrowed at both ends; edge thickened, entire; areolae half as broad as long. sori sub-superficial, often forked. Guiana, &c.
A. coriaceum (leathery). fronds 6in. to 8in. long, about 1/2in. broad, narrowed very gradually from the centre to the base, very acute at the apex, very thick; areolae very long and narrow, distinctly raised on the upper surface. sori quite immersed, sometimes confluent. Himalayas, &c. A. lanceolatum (lance-leaved).* fronds 1ft. or more long, 1/4in. to 1/2in. broad, point acute, edge entire, the lower half narrowed very gradually to the base; areolae two or three times as long as broad, about three rows between the midrib and the edge. sori slender, superficial, often joining. West Indies, southwards to New Grenada, 1793.