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From all the British species of Nitophyllum, except N. laceratum,
this handsome plant may be at once distinguished, when in
tetrasporic-fruit, by the marginal position of the sori; from N.
laceratum it can only be known by difference in form, in substance,
and, in some measure, by its brighter colour. The usual
narrow varieties of N. laceratum are so different from any state
of N. Gmelini, that we should hardly anticipate the occurrence
of individuals of doubtful characters, which seem to stand almost
equidistant from either species. And yet some luxuriant specimens
of N. laceratum so nearly approach the cloven varieties of
N. Gmelini, that in a dried state especially, they axe apt to deceive
even a practised eye. When the plants are freshly gathered
indeed, they are most easily separated,—N. Gmelini being known
by a peculiarly crisp, rigid feel, and N. laceratum by softness,
and at the same time toughness. The colour of the latter is
more purple, and often reflects prismatic colours; and the nerves
are much more clearly defined than in N. Gmelini.
A N Fig. 1.^ N i t o p h y l l u m G m e l in i -.— o f the natural size. 3. Portion of the frond,
with a marginal sorus. 3. Tetraspores, from the same. 4. Portion of the
frond with tubercles. 5. Section of one of the tubercles:— all more or less
highly t
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