84 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[April 1, 1867. 



The prince of hardy exotics is the Ostrich Fern 

 (Struthiopteris Germanicd), which is not half so well 

 known as it deserves to be. The erect pale-green 

 fronds, about two feet in height, stand around the 

 crown like the feathers in a shuttlecock, forming an 

 inverted cone. Every one who'aspires to an out-door 

 fernery should obtain this species, which is as hardy 

 and easy of cultivation as the Male Eern. 



Fig. 6S. Virginian Fern (Woodwurdia Virginica). 



There are also two North American ferns, belonging 

 to a genus of which we have no British representa- 

 tive, with fronds about eighteen inches in length. 

 These are the Virginian Eern {IFoodwardia Virginicd) 

 and the Florida Eern {Woodwardia areolata). They 

 are both of them hardy enough to stand the winter 

 out of doors. 



Our own Lady Eern is so beautiful that a know- 

 ledge of it is sufficient to induce any one to pur- 

 chase a Lady Eern on trust, and if it should be 

 Michaux's Lady Eern {Athjrium Michauxii) they 

 will not by any means be disappointed. This North 

 American species does not attain more than half the 

 size of the British, which perhaps is in itself a re- 

 commendation. 



Amongst the Spleenworts there is a hardy species 

 which may be called the Narrow-leaved Spleenwort 

 (Aspleniim angustifolium), which may be grown on 

 a rockwork out of doors. 



The Maiden-hair Fern is often made the subject 

 of complaint that it is too delicate for the out-door 

 fernery, except in the extreme south. Such com- 

 plainants ought to know that there is a North 

 American species, equally beautiful, easily grown, 

 and more hardy than the European Maiden-hair. 

 This deserves the name of Hardy Maiden-hair, but 

 it is known to gardeners and nurserymen as Adian- 

 tum pedatum. There is also an Australian species 

 {Adiantum assimile), but it is not more hardy than 

 the indigenous species, and very much resembles it 

 in size and appearance. 



Fig. 69. Onuclea sensibilis. 



A very commonly cultivated fern is Onoclea 

 sensibilis, with fronds two feet in length, and with 

 the fertile and barren fronds differing in form. 

 There is no great care required in its cultivation, 

 and its appearance is very different from any other 

 hardy fern. 



Another genus which has no representative 

 amongst British ferns, furnishes a hardy species with 

 a character somewhat resembling the Marsh Fern. 

 The fronds are about two feet in length, and its 

 name nearly as long, if written large enough ; this 

 is Diplazium thelypteroides. 



There are also two species of Buckler Ferns 

 belonging to the same genus as the Male Fern, 

 which are certainly hardy enough for out-door 

 culture. One of these is a native of China, and is 

 known as Lastrea decurrens ; the other is a North 

 American species called by cultivators and botauists 



