102 FEBNS AS DECOEATIVE OBJECTS. 



trasting with many others by its heavy colouring. A greenhouse 

 species, native of the Cape of Good Hope, 



58. Pteris (Platyloma) falcata. — A New Holland species, 

 cultivable in a greenhouse. The fronds grow in tufts from 1 to 

 2 ft'et long, erectish, pinnate, with opposite sickle-shaped pinnae. 

 It forms a distinct-looking pot specimen. 



59. Pteris cretica. — The fronds of this plant grow in a tuft, 

 and are from a foot to 18 inches high, pinnate, with opposite 

 elongate-lanceolate pinnae, the lowermost of which are 2 or 

 3-parted. It is an elegant plant. It is a native of Candia, and 

 requires a greenhouse climate. 



60. Blechnum Spicant. — This common, hardy, indigenous 

 species forms a splendid tuft Avhen grown luxuriantly. The 

 fronds are of two kinds, barren and fertile, the latter more 

 erect and taller than the former; both kinds are narrow- 

 lanceolate, the barren ones pectinate-pinnatifid, the fertile ones 

 pinnate, with still narrower and more distant segments. The 

 barren fronds may be used in bouquets according to their size, but 

 a luxuriant tuft is very ornamental. To attain this luxuriance 

 the shelter of a frame, a large-sized pot, and a rather abundant 

 supply of moisture are requisite. The fronds perish in the 

 autumn, and are renewed in spring. 



61. Blechnum australe. — This species has lance-shaped pin- 

 nate fronds a foot or more in length, thickly set with cordate- 

 lanceolate piimae. The fronds curve gracefully, and form an 

 elegant tuft when in a good state of development. It requires a 

 sub-tropical climate, being a native of the Cape of Good Hope. 



62. Doodia Kunthimia. — A pinnate-fronded plant, which 

 may be cultivated in a greenliouse. The fronds grow from 1 to 

 2 feet long ; the pinnae are ovate or lance-shaped, fringed with 

 prickly serratures. When growing luxuriantly it becomes a not 

 inelegant pot-plant, the fronds becoming somewhat drooping. 

 It appears to be an Australian species. 



ASPLENIE^. 



63. Athyrium FiUx-femina. — This is one of the most beau- 

 tiful of Ferns, and is very suitable for pot-culture. It is one of 

 tlie larger class, the fronds growing from 2 to 3 feet long ; 

 they are bipinnate, gracefully drooping, and of light feathery 

 composition. It is hardy, being indigenous to this country, but 

 bears a moderate degree of heat well. The fronds die in autumn, 

 and are renewed annually in the spring. 



64. Athyrium Filix-femina, crispum. — This grows like a 

 tuft of curled parsley, the apices of the fronds, which are not 

 more than 6 or 8 inches long, being, as well as the apices of tlie 

 pinnae, proliferous. It is a monstrosity, but is a very elegant 



