500 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Lomaria—continued. 
possession of the dead stem, in which they run apace. 
The plant will have the appearance of a handsome 
Lomaria with a stout stem of its own, and, if properly 
managed, will remain for years in excellent condition. A 
few species are naturally of arborescent habit, but this 
is rather the exception than the rule. Lomarias are 
almost invariably increased by means of their spores, 
which are abundantly produced and germinate very freely. 
In many sheltered places L. alpina may be treated 
as a hardy Fern; but this species succeeds best and 
remains evergreen in the greenhouse. It is extremely 
nseful for edging in the rockery or for planting in 
groups, making patches of a metallic or dark green 
colour on, say, the point of a rock, as it is a plant 
which requires very little soil in which to grow. 
In the case of L. discolor bipinnatijida, it is advisable 
to subject it to as little artificial heat as possible, so as 
to keep it free from the attacks of Thrips and Red 
Spider, which are particularly fond of it. 
The barren fronds of L. fluviatilis (see Fig. 529), being 
of 2» drooping character, render the plant suitable for 
growing in small hanging-baskets. Cultivated in that 
way, it shows itself to perfection. The method is also 
more beneficial to the plant, for if the fronds are allowed 
to lie on the ground they get damaged by constant 
contact with moisture, and soon deteriorate. 
L. punctulata is an easily-grown plant which requires 
thorough drainage, stagnation at the roots being par- 
ticularly injurious to it. Its fronds are very valuable 
for decoration, as they retain their freshness for a long 
time when cut and kept in water. 
The Hard Fern (L. Spicant) is 
of our evergreen species, and 
sturdy habit, as well as the deep green colour of its 
barren fronds, renders it one of the most useful plants 
for the decoration of the outdoor rockery, Where, in a 
moist, shady nook it forms a beantiful and most 
one of the commonest 
its striking dwarf and 
Fic. 530. LOMARIA GIBBA PLATYPTERA. 
| 
Lomaria—continued. 
conspicuous object.  L. Spicant 
fastidious of all our British Ferns, for, although it prefers 
a, moist sitnation with a northern aspect, it also sneceeds 
in a stiff, clayey soil, and when exposed to the direct rays 
of the sun. — It dislikes lime in any form. The compost 
in which the Hard Fern and its varieties grow most 
luxuriantly is one made_of loam, peat, leaf-mould, and 
sand in equal parts. In planting, it is found most 
beneficial to intermix, if possible, some fragments of 
broken sandstone with the compost, which is thus 
rendered more permeable, although retaining at the same 
time its permanently moist nature. It is in great 
request for the hardy Fernery, but, like some others of 
our British Ferns, it may with great advantage be also 
nsed for the decoration of the greenhouse and con- 
seryatory. Under such conditions its fronds, which are 
extremely useful in a cut state for mixing with cut 
flowers, retain their stiffness all throngh the winter. 
Some very handsome specimens of this species, in Sin. 
pots, have lately been produced in quantities by our 
market-growers for winter decoration. ‘The most reliable 
method employed for increasin the varieties of the 
Hard Fern is by division of the crowns. Very little 
dependence can be placed on their exactly reproducing 
the varieties in any other way. The species is readily 
propagated by means of spores, which are usually ripe 
about September. 
To the species and varieties described on p. 295, Vol. IL., 
the following should be added : 
L. alpina ramosa (branched). 
form of the type. 
L. aspera (rough). caw. stout, } 
scaly. sti. scarcely any. barren fronds 6in. long, 2in. broad, 
ovate-lanceolate, gradual narrowed below; pinne close, the 
larwest 3in. long, gin. broad, slightly dilated at base and auricled 
above. fertile fronds Sin. long, jin. broad, borne on longer 
stipes ; pinne crowded, sin. long, din. broad. Chili and Chiloe. 
L. Boryana Dalgairnsiz. The 
fertile fronds of this variety, 
which are of a very erect, rigid 
habit, have their pinnz con- 
spicuously contracted. 
L. ciliata gigantea (gigantic).* 
sti. densely clothed with dark 
-scales. fronds often 14ft. to 14ft. 
in length. A handsome form. 
L. ce. grandis (large).* Fronds 
naving pinne as wide as in 
Blechnum brasiliense. & hand- 
some form, stronger and more 
reeular in growth than the type. 
1897. 
L. c. major (larger). A strong- 
erowing and handsome form, 
with a spreading habit. 1897. 
Z%. Dalgairnsiz (Miss Dal- 
gains’). A form of L. Boryana, 
L. discolor bipinnatifida (bi- 
pinnatisd).* barren fronds often 
Sft. long, 6in. broad, numerous ; 
pinne overlapping, cut to the 
midrib. fertile fronds (so called) 
usually as sterile as the barren 
ones. South Australia. This 
handsome variety can only be 
increased by suckers. 
L. d. nuda pulcherrima (very 
pretty).* This garden variety 
differs from L. d. nuda in having 
the tip of each pinna somewhat 
crested or forked, and the apex 
of the frond still more distinctly 
crested. 
L. faleata (falcate). The plant 
found in eatalogues and in col- 
lections under this name is 
L. discolor nuda. 
L. gibba platyptera (broadly- 
winged).* A gigantic variety, 
often producing fronds Sft. in 
length. It has all the appearance 
of 2 Blechnum, and does not 
produce spores. See Fig. 530. 
L. g. rosea (pink). A synonym 
of L. g. tineta. 
L. g. tincta (tinged).* fronds 
when young tinged with pink, 
the central ones being almost 
is one of the least 
This is a dwarf, crested 
ultimately elongated, brown- 
