BOMBAY FKliNlillias. 1«7 



fronds, with rathe* leathery round-lobed segments is a most 

 distinct, kind, hut, very fare in Bombay* A. gracillimum is the acme 

 of perfection as regards gracefulness and minute division, and pre- 

 sents a lovely contrast to the finely-divided A. cxci.ium multifidum. 

 -with wedge-shaped segments, while for compactness of habit, coupl- 

 ed with minutely-divided foliage none can be compared in beauty 

 to the lovely dark green A. Neo-Guinensc, the almost equally at- 

 tractive A. cuncatum mundulum or the charming almost crested A. 

 amcinnum Fleminr/ii. Variety in habit and in shades of colour is 

 further presented in the narrow-frouded bright green A. concinnurn., 

 and in the singularly beautiful greyish-green .4. inter medium. In 

 A. formosum with its dark green, graceful, triangular, finely-divided 

 fronds we come across a different type, which in the highly orna- 

 mental, often rosy-tinged tall-growing A. tetraphyllum gracile, and 

 in the dwarf-growing A. dlaplianum, A. hispidulum, A. crenatum 

 Wilidanum and A. t&tfapkyllum assumes differing characters. Our 

 homely Maiden-hair/^. CapiUus Veneris, is but poorly represented 

 in Bombay, but one of its varieties A. G. V. Victorice is a very 

 flourishing and handsome dwarf-growing kind, and another beauti- 

 fully crested, almost moss-like form A. G. V. Luddemannii may per- 

 haps still exist in a few Bombay Ferneries. The indigenous A. 

 caudatum with light-green, somewhat rust-clad, rooting fronds, 

 and the dark green tender-fronded A. lunulatum, which in the 

 rains beautify our walls and the inside of wells, are sufficiently 

 ornamental to deserve a place in every Fernery. A rather curious 

 variety, A. Buasii, which has many admirers, though generally 

 presenting an appearance as if flagging for want of water, is too 

 common to be omitted, while a great number of other kinds are 

 so rare, that they cannot in fairness be mentioned as distinctive 

 features of Bombay Ferneries. Among other ferns, commonly 

 met with in Bombay, Gold and Silver-ferns are perhaps the most 

 generally appreciated, such as the exceedinglv common Gymno- 

 gramme calomelanos, with large dark green fronds, silvery- white 

 on their back ; G. chrysnpJiyUum, which much resembles the former, 

 but has a more elegant and spreading habit, well calculated to show 

 off the golden-yellow back of the fronds ; G. Mertensii Dobroydense 

 with dwarf finely divided, golden-powdered fronds ; Gheilanthes 



