220 



BAKDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



SOME FERNS OF HONG-KONG. 

 By Mrs. E. L. O' Malley. 



[ Coticludcdfrom p. 178.] 



Gen. XIII. Dicksonia {Cibotium), Kaulf. 



CIBOTIUM is a small section of the genus Dick- 

 sonia, a genus including many tree-ferns. In the 

 real Dicksonias the indusium is partly formed from the 

 leaf itself ; in the sub-section Cibotium the outer valve 

 of the involucre is distinct from the substance of the 



thing by classical writers of the olden times being 

 Barometz, by which the fern is sometimes still called. 

 Two tree-ferns are common : Alsophila podopkylla, 

 Hk., not nearly so finely cut as Cibotium and 

 distinguished by the raised globular sori and rough 

 scaly stem, and Brainea insignis, Hk., a smaller 

 plant bearing the fructification closely packed on 

 arched veins near the midrib. They are both pretty 

 generally distributed throughout the island. 



We notice in the last place one of the prettiest and 

 commonest of the ferns of Hong-Kong. 



Fig. 146. — Dicksonia Barometz, Link. 

 {Cibotium glaucum, Hk.) 



Fig. 147.— Brainea insignis, Hk. 



Fig. \4&.— Davallia tcnuifolia, Sw. 



frond, and situated at the margin and in the sinus of 

 the lobe. 



Cibotium glauatm, Hk., is a large handsome 

 graceful fern, the much-cut fronds and glaucous or 

 white powdery hue on the under-side easily serving 

 to distinguish the species. It may be met with 

 in every ravine, varying in height from 1-10 feet, 

 although never attaining to the dimensions of a tree. 

 The rhizome — that portion of the rachis which runs 

 along the ground, and is neither root nor stem — is 

 covered with short golden hairs, and is occasionally 

 to be found above the ground in quaint, curious 

 forms which have been taken to represent animals. 

 These portions of the root are sometimes to be seen 

 hawked about the streets of Hong-Kong and called 

 "Lamb-Fern" — the name employed for the same 



Gen. XIV. Davallia, Sm. 



Hares' foot fern — it has been called in conserva- 

 tories at home where one species is very often to be 

 seen. In many houses here the root (or rhizome, 

 properly speaking) is trained into the shape of balls 

 and rings, and the fern is hung up as an ornament in 

 verandahs. 



The common species is Davallia tenuifoKa, Sw. 



The frond grows from \\ to 8 inches high, is a 

 bright light green and shiny. The tiny divisions are 

 much cut and wider at the top than at the base. 

 The sorus terminates the margin of the lobe. There 

 is no mistaking this pretty little fern. It may be 

 found everywhere. When growing by the sea in 

 clefts of the rock, or on granite shelves at Kowloon, 



