204 HOUSE PLANTS 



mentioned, but Its chief feature is a broad, 

 white band down the middle of each division 

 of the frond. 



All the spider ferns are used more for fern 

 dishes than for specimen plants, to which 

 they are, however, admirably suited. 



OTHERS OF PROVEN MERIT 



One of the shield ferns (Polystichum 

 angulare) somewhat resembles the sword 

 ferns. The fronds are from one to two feet 

 long and rather narrow. The pinnae differ 

 from those of the sword ferns in that they 

 are triangular rather than oblong. This 

 fern seems to withstand the unfavourable* 

 condition of the house admirably. Mr. 

 W. H. Taplin, in American Gardening for 

 March lo, 1900, reports having known a 

 specimen which flourished in a window 

 garden for ten years! 



The hare's foot fern (Polypodium) is 

 always interesting because of its rhizomes. 

 These rest on the ground and are densely 

 covered with long, coarse, yellow hairs. 

 Sooner or later these hang over the edge of 

 the pot and bear a strong resemblance to a 

 rabbit's foot. 



