MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 135 
. bridge spans a small canyon in'front of the grotto and marks 
the beginning of the crest path. 
Entering from the palm house the visitor first comes out 
on a sort of platform—the roof of the grotto—from which a 
general survey of the house is obtained. In crossing the 
bridge the waterfall emerging from the canyon wall is seen 
on the right with a small pool directly below whence the brook 
takes its origin. The canyon and outer grotto walls are 
already covered with various ferns, among which the small, 
crawling fern Adiantum caudatum is especially noticeable. 
In time the walls on the interior of the grotto will be covered 
with plants which thrive in the very subdued light which 
prevails there. Just across the bridge and on the left side 
stands a large specimen of the turnip fern (Angiopteris 
evecta), and at intervals along the brook smaller, but equally 
striking plants of the bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus). 
At the north end of the valley are several good speci- 
mens of Cibotium Schiedei which in a few years will be among 
the most attractive ferns in the house. A few large tree ferns 
dot the slopes here and there and smaller alsophilas are ~ 
scattered throughout and will be much in evidence when they 
become thoroughly established in their new location. 
The ferns already mentioned are a few of the more strik- 
ing forms which stand out prominently above the countless 
numbers of smaller plants which have not been referred to 
but which cover every foot of the intervening spaces. Any 
bare places which exist will be quickly obliterated by the 
growth of the small plants occupying them now. Fern bas- 
kets will be hung in various places in the house as soon as 
suitable ones can be prepared, and vines and other climbing 
plants will add much to the attractiveness of this house. 
A NEW FOLIAGE PLANT. 
In March, 1912, the Garden received from the Bureau of 
Agriculture at ele Islands, seeds of the native 
Ficus pseudopalma. This plant was first described in 1837, 
by Blanco, in his “Flora of the Philippines” (F1. Filip. Ed. 
L., 680; Ed. IT., 473). In its native habitat it grows to be a 
small tree, from 18 to 21 feet high, rarely branching, with 
lanceolate linear leaves from 1 to 14% feet long, dark green 
in color, the peculiar fruits being produced in the axils of 
the leaves. As the plant grows the leaves are shed, with the 
exception of a bit ere at the top making the crown appear 
not unlike a bird’s nest fern. 
Within a year from the receipt of the seeds the Garden 
had on hand about thirty of these plants from 11% to 3 feet. 
