Ferns/or Drazving-room Decoration 



77 



than the previously named kind, and very 

 beautiful ; it has deep green tripartite ever- 

 green fronds, which are very persistent. 

 Small pieces may be used, with great effect, for 

 ladies' wreaths, or for bouquet-making. 



A. formostim. — In this plant we have a 

 veritable gem ; it is somewhat strong-growing, 

 attaining a height of from 2 to 3 feet ; the 

 stipes, or foot-stalks, are jet black, supporting 

 a spreading frond of bright shining green 

 pinnae. This plant is easily grown, and most 

 effective. 



A. hispididiun, sometimes called A. pubes- 

 cens, is a plant which forms a handsome 

 spreading tuft, about 18 inches or more in 

 height; the fronds are flabellate and dark 

 green, clothed with numerous short stiff 

 hairs. 



AnemidiJyon Phyllitidis. — This is a very 

 elegant and interesting plant. It produces 

 pinnate fronds, the pinnse being broad, en- 

 tire, and shining green. In addition to this, 

 when the plant arrives at a fertile state it 

 throws up little spikes of sori, which stand 

 ■erect, and give it much the appearance of 

 flowering. 



Asplenium hulbifcrum. — An interesting 

 plant, with light green arching fronds, which 

 become laden with quantities of young plants, 

 which grow from little bulbules from the 

 upper side. 



Asplmitim flaccidum. — This forms a charm- 

 ing object when placed upon an ornamental 

 bracket on the top of a small pedestal ; its 

 long pendulous fronds are somewhat thick 

 and leathery in texture, and sometimes reach 

 3 feet in length. 



A. compressum. — A broad-leaved and ro- 

 bust plant, growing erect, and attaining a 

 height of about 2 feet ; the fronds are pin- 

 nate, thick in texture, dark green, and the 

 pinnae frequently bear young plants upon the 

 superior surface. 



A. dimorpJmm. — This plant, perhaps better 

 known by the name of A.diversifolium, is an 

 especial favourite of mine. The fronds are 

 erect and spreading, the barren ones bearing 

 broad shining green pinns, whilst the fertile 

 fronds are more finely divided ; the two forms 

 being produced at the same time give it a 

 most striking effect. 



A. marinum. — This is the Sea Spleenwort 

 of our own islands ; the fronds are erect and 

 pinnate, the pinnae are thick and leathery, and 

 of the most vivid dark shining green ; it is a 

 charming plant. 



A. lucidum. — A charming bold growing 

 plant, with pendulous pinnate fronds, some 

 3 or 4 feet long ; the pinnae are leathery, ob- 

 long, and dark green ; for the top of a 

 column it is most effective. 



A. pramorsum. — This is another plant with 

 a somewhat pendulous habit ; the fronds are 

 bipinnate, and the pinnce are peculiarly 

 notched at the edges, and dark green ; it is 

 very distinct and handsome. 



Blechnum occidentale. — Several species of this 

 genus, I have no doubt, would be found to 

 succeed in the drawing-room uncovered ; but 

 this is the only kind I can speak confidently of; 

 it is a charming plant for an ornamental vase ; 

 the fronds are pinnate and rich bright green, 

 usually growing from 12 to 18 inches high. 



Cyrtomiiun caryotidieunu — An elegant and 

 robust plant, growing from i to 2 feet high, 

 spreading in habit,fronds pinnate, pinnae large, 

 pale green in colour. 



C. For f unci. —This differs from the last 

 named plant in its more erect habit, smaller 

 pinnae, and the dark green of its fronds ; it is 

 extremely ornamental- 



Davallia canariensis. — The present plant 

 is popularly known as the Hare's-foot Fern ; 

 the peculiar stout creeping rhizome, clothed 

 with light brown chaffy scales, producing a 

 striking resemblance to the foot of a hare ; 

 it produces broad much-divided fronds, which 

 are dark green, whilst the sori, which, 

 freely produced and reddish-brown in colour, 

 adds materially to its beauty. 



D. tcmufoUa. — This plant does not belong 

 to the Hare's-foot section of the genus, and is 

 perhaps more correctly known as Odonto- 

 soria tenuifolia ; it is an erect growing plant, 

 varying from i to 3 feet in height ; the fronds 

 are finely divided, oblong-lanceolate in shape, 

 and very deep green in colour ; undoubtedly 

 one of the most elegant Ferns for room deco- 

 ration. 



Dicksonia antardka. — Although this is one 

 of our most robust Tree Ferns, it neverthe- 

 less makes a beautiful plant for the purpose 



