THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



147 



plant of this is one of the noblest I possess. Some of the fronds measure 

 two and a half inches across, and they have two distinct forms, one not 

 greatly different to the species ; another breaking at the summit into huge 

 bifid or trifid segments or stags' horns. This is a very bold and striking 

 variety, and of the very best habit for planting out on a bunk either 

 under glass or in the open-air fernery. 



The fronds have a fresh green hue, and are all more or less fertile. 

 Another of this class is called Foli/scupis undosmn, that is, with many cusps 

 and wavy (1). Here the fronds all terminate in twisted horns, so beau- 

 tifully as to appear crested, and in fact it might have been named cristatum 

 with great propriety. This is smaller and neater, and more uniform than 

 the last, and is quite a gem for pot culture. But the name Cristatum is 

 better applied to 3, which makes a charming companion to polyscupis for 

 pot culture. This cristatum grows nearly erect, the fronds are wavy, cor- 

 date at the base, and at the summit spreading into broad semicircular fans. 

 This is a gem iu its way, does not attain any great size, has a lovely green 

 hue, and is always barren. Now, we come to the finest of all the crested 

 scolopendriums, and the prettiest fern known for a pot specimen or to plant 

 out on a shady bank. This is called Ramo-marginatum, and as you see 

 by its portrait, it is a gem of gems, a paragon. This is of medium growth, 

 though very vigorous, and it throws up such a number of its curious and 

 elegant fronds that it soon forms a specimen arching over on all sides 

 equally, and its characters are remarkably persistent and uniform. The 

 usual type is a frond contracted through two-thirds of its length, and in 

 this contracted portion crenulated j it then suddenly spreads into a broad 

 semicircular fan, deeply notched and crisped, and the divisions so abundant 

 that they overlap and add a tone of richness to the most cmious of all 

 fern developments. Sometimes the fronds divide into two or three forks 

 each, terminating in a fan; they are all barren, and the colour is a fresh 

 lively green. 



Now we come to two which are nearly alike, but both desirable. 

 Maryinata papillosum (2), is one of Stansfield's varieties. It is not a 

 sti'ong grower, but it is very peculiar. The fronds are narrow, and nearly 

 the same width throughout ; at the base they form a double crescent, the 

 usual cordate form being exagge- 



result is a most 

 unique outline. 



rated, and the 

 beautiful and 



Prom the base to the summit they 

 are crenulated so as to appear as 

 if some embroidery work had been 

 laid on, and this deception is aided 

 by their remarkable thickness of 

 texture. There is in fact a sort 

 of double surface development 

 owing to the constriction of the 

 bases of the wavy edges ; the re - 

 suit is that the frond appears to 

 be covered with something be- 

 tween freckles and pimples, and 

 between the fingers it has a coria- 

 ceous feel, and this leathery tex- 

 tiire makes it robust and stiff, 



SCOLOPENDBIDM TULGABB BAMO-MAEGIirATCH. 



and characteristic. This variety is 



