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Lomaria (From loma an edge referring)

(from loma, an edge; referring to the position of the spores on the fronds). ORD. Filices. Including Lomaridium, Lomariopsis. A rather large genus (about fifty species) of handsome stove, greenhouse, or hardy ferns, of world-wide distribution, but having its head-quarters in the South temperate zone. Fronds dimorphous, usually once pinnatifid or pinnate, rarely simple or bipinnate. Sori linear, continuous, parallel with the midrib, and occupying the whole or nearly the whole of the space between it and the edge; involucre membranous, formed of the revolute edge of the frond. The species of this genus are, for the most part, unexcelled for the decoration of conservatories, dinner tables, &c. The large-growing species thrive best in a compost of loam and peat, to which may be added a small quantity of silver sand. The smaller sorts will require scarcely any loam. For general culture, see Ferns. L. alpina (alpine).* rhiz. slender, wide-creeping, clothed with lanceolate ferruginous scales at the crown. barren fronds 4in. to 8in. long, 1/2in. to 3/4in. broad, linear-lanceolate, with spreading, close-placed, linear-oblong, obtuse pinnae, 1/2in. long, 1/8in. broad. fertile fronds on stipes 4in. to 12in. long; pinnae narrower and more distant. Involucre slightly intramarginal. Brazil. A smaller plant than L. Spicant, with a slender, wide-creeping rhizome, and the pinnae, especially of the fertile frond, broader and shorter. Half-hardy.

L. attenuata (narrowed).* cau. long, horizontal, stout, densely clothed at the apex with linear-subulate, light brown scales. sti. 4in. to 6in. long, erect, naked or slightly scaly below. fronds 1ft. to 3ft. long, 6in. to 9in. broad, ovate, narrowed very gradually downwards; barren pinnae numerous, contiguous, spreading, linear, 3in. to 4in. long, 1/2in. to 3/4in. broad, narrowed gradually towards the point, which is sometimes bluntly serrated, dilated on both sides at the base; fertile pinnae as numerous, but only half to one line broad. Tropical America. A very beautiful and distinct stove species. SYN. L. gigantea.

L. Banksii (Banks'). cau. stout, woody, elongated, scaly upwards. sti. 3in. to 4in. long, erect, scaly below. barren fronds lanceolate, 6in. to 9in. long, about 1in. broad; pinnae spreading, oblong, obtuse, 3/8in. to 1/2in. long, 1/4in. broad, close-placed, passing gradually downwards into a sinuated decurrent wing to the stem. fertile fronds smaller and more slender; pinnae narrower and more distant. New Zealand. Greenhouse.

L. blechnoides (Blechnum-like).* cau. creeping. barren fronds short-stalked, lanceolate, about 6in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad; upper pinnae 3/4in. long, 3/8in. broad, dilated at the base, rather falcate, point blunt; lower ones narrowed gradually into mere auricles. fertile fronds 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, 3in. broad. sti. 6in. long, strong, erect; pinnae 1 1/2in. to 2in. long, 1/8in. broad, dilated suddenly at the base, the upper ones 1/4in. to 3/8in. apart. Chili. Very closely allied to L. lanceolata, but with larger fertile fronds, with pinnae widened suddenly at the base on both sides. Greenhouse. L. Boryana (Bory's).* cau. stout, erect, 1ft. to 2ft. high, woody, densely scaly. sti. stout, erect, 4in. to 6in. long. barren fronds ovate, 1ft. to 2ft. long, 6in. to 8in. broad; pinnae close-placed, erecto-patent, lanceolate, narrowed gradually to the point, narrowed and sometimes auricled at the base, 3in. to 6in. long, 1/2in. or rather more broad. fertile fronds, pinnae narrow, linear, rather close. Involucre brown, membranaceous, fimbriated, sometimes slightly intramarginal. West Indies to Falkland Islands, South Africa, &c. Greenhouse. SYN. L. magellanica. (H. G. F. 52.) L. robusta is a stout-growing form of this species, with densely scaly rachis.

L. B. cycadoides (Cycas-like). trunk stout, massive, furnished about the crown and base of stipes with a profusion of long black scales. fronds pinnate, coriaceous, 1ft. to 2ft. long; pinnae large, lanceolate-oblong, blunt, deep green, the fertile ones linear-lanceolate, recurved at the apex. South-east Africa, 1875. Greenhouse.

L. B. Dalgairnsiae (Miss Dalgairns'). trunk blackish, shaggy at apex, with long, subulate, dark brown scales. fronds sub-coriaceous, lanceolate, pinnate; pinnae lanceolate, acute, the terminal ones confluent, dark green above, pale beneath. South Africa, 1877.

L. capensis (Cape). A form of L. procera.

L. chilensis (Chilian). A form of L. procera.

L. ciliata (fringed).* cau. 9in. high, 1 1/2in. thick. sti. slightly scaly below. fronds not numerous, 8in. to 12in. long, ovate-oblong, simply pinnate; barren pinnae linear-oblong, the lower ones distant and narrowed below, the upper more approximate, adnato-decurrent, with a broad rounded auricle at the base on the lower side, bluntish, frequently emarginate or bifid, margins lobed and spinuloso-ciliated; fertile pinnae narrow-linear, decurrent, sometimes slightly pinnatifid. New Caledonia. Stove. Allied to L. gibba. L. Colensoi (Colenso's). A synonym of L. Patersoni elongata. L. crenulata (scolloped). A synonym of L. Germainii. L. Cumingiana (Cuming's). A synonym of L. Patersoni. L. discolor (two-coloured).* cau. stout, ascending. sti. 3in. to 6in. long, strong, densely scaly at the base. fronds 1ft. to 3ft. long, the barren ones 4in. to 6in. broad, narrowed gradually at the base; pinnae numerous, spreading, contiguous, linear, 2in. to 3in. long, 3/8in. broad, cut down very nearly to the rachis, narrowed suddenly towards the point, margin wavy; fertile pinnae as numerous, but narrower and shorter. Australia, &c. Greenhouse.

L. d. nuda (naked). This variety differs from the type in its less coriaceous texture, castaneous stems, and more numerous, narrower, acuminate pinnae. L. dura (hard). cau. erect, sub-arborescent. sti. 1in. long, thick, erect, scaly at the base. fronds 1ft. or more long, lanceolate, cut down to the rachis below; barren pinnae, the lower ones dwarfed into rounded lobes, the middle ones oblong sub-falcate, the upper ones narrower and more acuminated; fertile pinnae shorter, crowded, broadish, very blunt, decurrent at the base above. Involucre transversely wrinkled, the margin fimbriated. Chatham Islands, 1866. Hardy. SYN. L. rigida.

L. elongata (elongated). A synonym of L. Patersoni elongata. L. filiformis (filiform). rhiz. scandent, stout. sti. distant, 1in. to 4in. long. barren fronds ovate-lanceolate, 1ft. to 2ft. long, 3in. to 4in. broad; pinnae numerous, spreading, linear, 2in. to 3in. long, 1/2in. broad, distinctly stalked, narrowed gradually towards the point and regularly crenato-dentate throughout; frond of the lower part of the caudex often much smaller, linear in general outline, 3in. to 4in. long, 1in. broad, with oblong, obtuse, sharply-toothed pinnae. fertile fronds ovate, with numerous narrowly-linear pinnae, 3in. to 4in. long. New Zealand, &c. Greenhouse. SYNS. Lomariopsis heteromorpha and Stenochlaena heteromorpha. L. fiuviatilis (floating). cau. 3in. to 4in. long, stout, scaly towards the crown. sti. 3in. to 4in. long, erect, densely scaly. barren fronds linear, 6in. to 18in. long, 1in. to 2in. broad; pinnae oblong, obtuse, spreading, not decurrent, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, 1/4in. to 3/8in. broad, the upper ones nearly contiguous, the lower ones shorter and more distant. fertile fronds, pinnae linear-obtuse, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, 1/8in. broad, erecto-patent. New Zealand, &c. Greenhouse.

L. Fraseri (Fraser's).* cau. elongated, stout, sub-erect, densely clothed with linear scales at the crown. sti. 4in. to 6in. long, strong, erect, scaly. fronds ovate, acuminate, bipinnatifid, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, 4in. to 6in. broad; pinnae linear-lanceolate, the lower ones 2in. to 3in. long, 1/2in. to 3/4in. broad, cut down very nearly to the rachis into linear-oblong, mucronate, slightly-toothed pinnules, their bases decurrent into a pinnatifid wing to the main rachis with triangular lobes; fertile frond similar in size and cutting. New Zealand, 1843. A very elegant greenhouse species, and quite distinct.

L. Germainii (Germain's). cau. elongated, scaly at the apex. sti. 1in. to 2in. long, erect, firm, scaly. barren fronds 2in. to 3in. long, 3/4in. to 1in. broad, oblong-lanceolate, with imbricated, spreading, linear-obtuse, crenate pinnae, the largest 3/8in. long, 1/8in. broad, the lower ones distant, and narrowing down gradually to mere auricles. fertile fronds on longer stalks, with pinnae nearly as broad and close as the others. Chili. Greenhouse. SYN. L. crenulata. (H. S. F. iii. 152.) Most like L. alpina in size and habit. L. gibba (gibbous).* cau. 2ft. to 3ft. high. sti. short, strong, erect, densely scaly below. fronds 2ft. to 3ft. long, 6in. broad, both barren and fertile with very numerous erecto-patent pinnae on each side, those of the former 4in. to 6in. long, 1/4in. to 3/8in. broad, cut down nearly to the rachis, dilated and connected at the base, the lower ones growing shorter very gradually, margin nearly entire; fertile pinnae 4in. to 6in. long, 1/8in. broad. sori occupying the whole space between the edge and midrib. New Caledonia, &c., 1862. Stove or greenhouse. The variety known as Bellii is a handsome form, producing long forked fronds, which are densely tasselled at the apex, as also are the points of all the pinnae.

L. g. robusta (robust).* A garden form, of more robust habit, and with broader pinnae, than the type.

L. gigantea (gigantic). A synonym of L. attenuata.

L. Gilliesii (Gillies'). A synonym of L. procera.

L. lanceolata (lanceolate). cau. elongated, and densely clothed with dark brown, linear scales. sti. 4in. to 6in. long, firm, erect. fronds 6in. to 12in. long, 2in. to 4in. broad; the barren ones lanceolate, narrowed very gradually below; pinnae close, slightly falcate, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long, 1/4in. to 3/8in. broad, gradually narrowed to a point or bluntish, slightly toothed; fertile pinnae linear, spreading or falcate, about 1/8in. apart at the base. Australia, &c. A pretty greenhouse species.

L. L'Herminieri (L'Herminier's). cau. ultimately elongated, densely scaly. sti. 4in.to 6in. long, strong, erect. barren fronds ovate-lanceolate, 9in. to 15in. long, 3in. to 4in. broad; pinnae dilated at the base, slightly falcate, 2in. or rather more long, 1/2in. into mere auricles; fertile pinnae 2in. to 3in. long, 1/8in. broad; the lower ones 1/2in. to 1in. apart at the base. West Indies to Chili. Stove. (H. G. F. 40.) L. magellanica (Magellan). A synonym of L. Boryana.

L. nigra (black).* cau. stout, clothed at the crown with linear scales. sti. slender, erect, densely scaly, 2in. to 3in. long. barren fronds 4in. to 6in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, linear-oblong, with a large, bluntish, sinuated point, cut down below to the rachis into numerous roundish-oblong, sinuated pinnae on each side, which are 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, 1/4in. to 1/8in. broad, the lower one quite distinct, and a short distance from one another. fertile fronds with longer stalks, the terminal pinna long-linear, the lateral ones linear, erecto-patent. New Zealand. Greenhouse. (H. S. F. iii. 35.) L. onocleoides (Onoclea-like). rhiz. long-scandent, densely scaly. barren fronds on stipes 3in. to 4in. long, lanceolate, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, 1in. to 2in. broad, narrowed very gradually below; pinnae 1in. or less long, 1/4in. to 3/8in. broad, lanceolate, dilated at the base, narrowed gradually towards the point. fertile fronds on stipes 4in. to 6in. long; pinnae linear, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long. Involucre broad, involute. West Indies, &c. Stove. (H. S. F. 146.) L. Patersoni (Paterson's). rhiz. short-creeping. sti. 2in. to 3in. long, wiry, erect, rather scaly below. barren fronds about 1ft. long, under 1in. broad, broadest one-third of the distance from the top, narrowed very gradually downwards; point acuminate, margin cartilaginous and wavy. fertile fronds as long, but only 1/8in. broad. sori occupying the whole space between the midrib and margin. South Africa. A very pretty greenhouse species. SYN. L. Cumingiana. (H. S. F. 143.) L. P. elongata (lengthened). A variety having both barren and fertile fronds pinnatifid, 2ft. or more long, the former cut down nearly to the rachis into six to nine pinnae on each side, which are often 6in. to 9in. long, nearly 1in. broad, and suddenly decurrent at the base; the fertile pinnae often numerous on each side, erecto-patent, 6in. long, 1/8in. broad. Neilgherries and Ceylon. Stove. SYNS. L. Colensoi, L. elongata, and L. punctata. L. procera (tall).* cau. stout, woody, elongated, clothed with large scales. sti. 6in. to 12in. long, stout, erect, scaly below. barren fronds ovate, 1ft. to 3ft. long, 6in. to 12in. broad; pinnae linear, 3in. to 12in. long, 1/2in. to 1in. broad, the lower ones stalked, base rounded or even cordate, sometimes auricled, point narrowed gradually. fertile fronds narrowly linear, distant, 4in. to 6in. long, 1/4in. broad. Involucre broad, membranaceous, ciliated, sometimes slightly intramarginal. Mexico, West Indies, Australia, &c. Greenhouse. SYN. L. Gilliesii. (H. S. F. 53.) L. capensis and L. chilensis are large-growing forms.

L. p. ornifolia (Ash-leaved). fronds 3ft. long, with as many as forty pinnae; the lower ones distinctly stalked, and often furnished with glands. SYN. L. tuberculata.

L. p. vestita (clothed). A form with densely paleaceous rachis. SYN. L. vestita.

L. pumila (dwarf).* rhiz. slender, creeping, clothed with bluntish scales at the apex. fertile fronds on stipes 3in. to 4in. long; pinnae linear-oblong, with a considerable space between them. barren fronds lanceolate, 3in. to 4in. long, 1/2in. broad; pinnae spreading, linear-oblong, obtuse, crenated, 1/4in. long, 1/8in. broad. New Zealand. Half-hardy.

L. punctata (dotted). A synonym of L. Patersoni elongata. L. punctulata (dotted). cau. stout, densely paleaceous at the crown. sti. 3in. to 6in. long, strong, erect, barren fronds oblong-lanceolate, 1ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 6in. broad; pinnae very numerous, contiguous, linear, sub-falcate, 2in. to 3in. long, 1/4in. to 3/8in. broad, rounded or cordate and auricled at base, lower ones deflexed, and the lowest reduced to auricles. fertile fronds similar, but pinnae often not more than 1/8in. broad; rachis stout, erect, naked. South Africa, from Natal southward, and Java. Greenhouse. L. rigida (rigid). A synonym of L. dura.

L. robusta (robust). A form of L. Boryana.

L. Spicant (spiked).* rhiz. stout, short-creeping. barren fronds on stalks 2in. to 3in. long, lanceolate, 6in. to 9in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, narrowed gradually below; pinnae linear, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, 1/8in. broad, bluntish or mucronate, slightly dilated at the base. fertile fronds often 1ft. long, 2in. broad, on stipes 6in. to 9in. long, narrowly linear; pinnae 1/4in. to 3/8in. apart, dilated at the base, the line of fructification at first slightly intramarginal. Northern hemisphere (Britain). Hardy. SYN. Blechnum Spicant.

L. S. anomala (anomalous). fronds about 9in. in height, thin, much attenuated; pinnae all partially fertile, without being so much contracted as usual. Novel and distinct. A miniature form of this variety, known as minus, has been discovered in Wales, and makes a very pretty Wardian case subject. L. S. concinna (neat). barren fronds prostrate, about 1ft. long, 1/2in. broad; lobes almost flabellate, beautifully crenulated round the margins, and somewhat imbricated. fertile fronds similar in outline, but erect. A very pretty variety.

L. S. contracta (contracted). fronds 4in. to 6in. long, very narrow; the lower portion resembles a deeply incised wing to the rachis; the upper portion pinnatifid, becoming again narrow at the apex. North Wales. A pretty Wardian case plant.

L. S. crispa (curled). A beautiful variety, having the lobes of the fronds beautifully undulated or curled and nearly always entire, and all the apices crested.

L. S. cristata (crested). A pretty form, differing from the type in the apex of each frond having a furcate crest.

L. S. flabellata (fan-shaped). fronds several times divided near the base, each division being beautifully ramose, and crested at the apex. A handsome variety.

L. S. imbricata (imbricated). barren fronds 6in. long, 2in. broad, ovate-lanceolate, the obtuse lobes densely imbricated. fertile fronds with the lobes somewhat narrower.

L. S. imbricato-erecta (erect-imbricate). fronds ligulate; pinnae imbricate, turning back in the fertile fronds, so that their edges almost meet. A distinct form of the variety flabellata.

L. S. lancifolia (lance-leaved). barren fronds narrow, depauperated at the base, entire and ligulate towards the apex. fertile fronds about 9in. long, pinnatifid; pinnae short and obtuse, the terminal one very much elongated. L. S. multifurcata (much-forked). fronds 5in. to 10in. in height, nearly 2in. broad, the apex divided into several branches, forming a head upwards of 3in. across; pinnae usually furcate; sterile fronds prostrate; fertile ones erect. L. S. polydactyla (many-fingered). A handsome form, nearly as large as the type, and bearing a beautiful crest upon the apex of every frond. L. S. serrato-rigida (rigid-toothed). fronds 9in. to 10in. high, pinnate, crested upon the ends; pinnae distant, serrated on both margins. A rigid and erect variety.

L. S. serrulata (serrulated). fronds about 6in. high, very narrow-lanceolate; pinnae short, and beautifully serrulate on the margins. Very pretty for Wardian case culture.

L. S. stricta (upright). fronds about 1ft. high, 1in. broad; lobes dentate, often slightly depauperated; fertile fronds much narrower than the sterile ones. A distinct variety.

L. S. trinervis (three-nerved). The main point of distinction in this variety occurs in the division of the frond into three sections near the base, the lateral ones being very small in comparison to the central one. A fine form of this variety--coronans--has the apices terminated with a large crest. L. S. variabilis (variable). fronds 4in. to 5in. long, simple, entire, for a third of their length enlarging upwards, and then suddenly contracting; apex sometimes furcate.

L. tenuifolia (slender-fronded). A synonym of Acrostichum tenuifolium. L. tuberculata (warted). A synonym of L. procera ornifolia. L. vestita (clothed). A synonym of L. procera vestita. L. vulcanica (volcanic). cau. thick, erect or sub-prostrate, densely clothed at the crown with subulate blackish scales. sti. 4in. to 6in. long, erect. fronds 6in. to 18in. long, 3in. to 6in. broad, the barren ones ovate-lanceolate, not narrowed at the base or the lower pinnae abbreviated; pinnae spreading, lanceolate, 2in. to 4in. long, 1/4in. to 3/8in. broad, base slightly dilated, point acute or bluntish, the lowest pair deflexed; fertile pinnae linear, distant, dilated suddenly at the base, 2in. to 4in. long, 1/8in. broad. Java, New Zealand, &c. Stove or greenhouse.