98 FEllNS AS DECORATIVE ODJECTS. 



thick and leathery in texture, and having a smooth shining sur- 

 face. Tlie fronds are from 6 inclies to a foot long, twice, some- 

 times thrice-divided, the lobes being narrow and serrated. The 

 fronds may be used in bouquets, the smaller ones in small hand 

 bouquets ; the entire plant is very elegant. It is a Janjaica 

 species, and requires a stove climate. 



42. Asplenium (Darea) cicutariitm. — A very elegant-tufted 

 growing species, with pinnate decurved fronds, the branches of 

 which are set with finely-divided pinnules. Its colour is usually 

 a pale green. The fronds vary from six inches to a foot in 

 length ; and may be employed, according to their size, in 

 bouquets ; but the entire plant is very elegant. A native of 

 Jamaica, and requires a stove temperature. 



43. Aspleniian (Darea) viviparum. A remarkable looking 

 Fern, with small ovate fronds, divided into very narrow needle- 

 shaped segments. The fronds are tripinnate, and the pinnae 

 being rather close, they look something like a mass of inter- 

 woven threads. These fronds, whicli form a tuft, are frequently 

 viviparous, a circumstance which often occurs also in several 

 other Ferns. Pretty and distinct for bouquets. It requires a 

 stove climate, being a native of the Mauritius. 



44. Asplenium (Darea) diversifolium. — Kemarkable for the 

 various leafing of the fronds, and withal a very elegant plant. 

 The fronds grow in a tuft two feet high : some are bipinnate, 

 with the pinnules broad, roundish, and notched ; others are 

 tripinnate, the pinnules being again divided into numerous (9-12) 

 linear segments. It is a native of Norfolk Island, and tliough 

 it does not require a hot climate, yet it thrives well in a house 

 with tropical species Useful for large bouquets. 



45. Asplenium (Acropteris) canariense. — A very elegant 

 species, the fronds being a foot-and-a-half or two feet long, 

 twice pinnate, with the points of the pinnae much attenuated 

 and deeply incised. The pinnules are elongate, wedge-sliaped 

 at the base, with about two deep incisions. It is a greenhouse 

 species, native of Teneriffe ; the size of the fronds renders them 

 suitable only fur large bouquets, but their singularly laciniated 

 fronds are well adapted for this use. The plant is very orna- 

 mental in the growing state; the fronds grow in a tuft. 



46. Asplenium {Ac,ro]iteris) preemorsum. — A singular-looking 

 yet elegant plant, in the way of the last ; the tufted fronds are 

 bipinnate, a foot or more in length ; the pinnae being divided 

 into alternate sessile wedge-shaped pinnules, the apices of which 

 are bluntish, and more or less gashed and toothed. It is a 

 Jamaica species, and requires a tropical climate. Tiie plant is 

 ornamental, and the fronds, according to their size, well suited 

 for bouquets. 



