Asplenium nidus, Linmeus, with fronds from two to six feet
long; A . muscefolium, Mettenius, with fronds from four to six
feet long, and one foot broad; A . Australasicum, Hooker,
with fronds from two to six feet long.
In A . nidus the frond is usually narrower. In A . musosfolium
the great size, and especially breadth of its simple or un-
dividcd frond, makes it, as Sir Mk J . Hooker says, “ unquestionably
the most noble of all the genus A sp len ium :’ A .
Australasicum, which is distinguished by the very acute keel
to the costa, is the form figured in my “ Natural History of
Ferns, vol. v, Plato XV .—A, under the name of A . nidus,
and this F e rn must therefore be called the A . nidus var!
Australasicum; the present species being the normal form of
A . nidus.
An evergreen stove Fern.
Native of the East Indies—Malay Islands, Mauritius, Elizabeth
Island, Oahu, Sandwich Islands, Society Islands, China, Chusan,
Bonin Isles, Australia, Norfolk Island, and Madagascar.
Fronds ample, spathulato-lanceolate, acuminate at the apex,
and tapering to the base; decurrent on a brief stipes. Costa
semiterete at the back.
Sori extending from the costa to about half-way towards the
margin.
For fronds my thanks are due to Mr. J . Smith, Curator of
the Royal Gardens, Kew.