548 
Nephrodium—continued. 
it a very useful species for winter decoration. The 
whole plant is rendered exceedingly attractive by the 
bright red indusia, which contrast pleasantly with the 
dark glossy green of the upper surface of the frond. It 
is easily propagated from spores. 
Filix-mas, when planted in naturally sheltered 
places, becomes almost an evergreen species, most useful 
for ornamenting the rockery and shrubbery. Like many 
other Ferns, it looks much handsomer when planted out, 
especially if disposed upon an irregular surface, in 
clumps of six or eight strong plants each, with a few 
pieces of stone or rock, which greatly add to their 
appearance, laid in between and among them. The male 
Fern is not, however, in any way fastidious, and will 
grow luxuriantly either in pots or planted out, in almost 
any soil, provided that during its growing season it 
receive a good supply of water at the roots; but it 
prefers a light and sandy loam toa stiff clay, and 
although it will bear exposure to the sun, yet it flourishes 
much better in a shady situation. It is readily propa- 
gated from spores, which are usually , ripe about 
Midsummer; and also from division of the crowns, which 
is a much slower process. 
N. hispidum is particularly adapted for growing in a 
Fern-case in the dwelling-room, where, in the company 
of Todeas and other Filmy Ferns, it will be found to 
thrive admirably ; indeed, it is a plant rather difficult to 
manage in the open honse, unless a close and shady 
corner can be devoted to it. Hither as a pot plant or 
planted out it forms a beautiful and interesting object. 
N. molle is a most accommodating plant, succeeding 
under either stove or greenhouse treatment. It does well 
either grown in a pot or planted out in the rockery, 
where it forms a capital background, showing off to 
adyantage other and choicer Ferns, and in which position 
it soon multiplies, as it is readily propagated from 
spores. Several varieties of N. molle have been produced 
under cultivation, the most distinct being N. m. corym- 
biferum. On account of its curious form, its rapid 
growth, and its pleasing green colour, this variety 
has taken a leading place among the Ferns specially 
grown for decoration. When subjected to cool or inter- 
mediate treatment it is never, to our knowledge, attacked 
by any insect; it is only when grown in too warm a 
house that the plant is seen covered with Mealy Bug, 
which pest is only eradicated with great difficulty, as 
the texture of the fronds is very soft, and they do not 
bear fumigating or dipping in any insecticide. 
N. montanum is most effective when planted in masses 
on the rockery; but it is one of the few species which 
do not take to transplanting very kindly, although, with 
a little care, it may successfully be removed. It also 
makes a handsome specimen when grown in a pot. In 
either case thorough drainage is necessary, and the soil 
best suited to its cultivation is a compost of four parts 
of fibry peat and one part each of leaf-monld and sandy 
loam, with a free admixture of silver-sand. 
Though generally considered as an evergreen green- 
house species, N. Sieboldii is sufficiently hardy to 
withstand the severity of an English climate, as it is 
reported by Lowe to have survived the winter of 1854-55 
in the open air, while it also withstood the rigours of 
the winter of 1889-90 unprotected, in the neighbourhood 
of London. 
N. spinulosum is well adapted for the moist parts of 
the Peper or the shady parts of the shrubbery, where, 
through its bold, free habit, it is rendered very distinct 
and decorative. The plant will bear a moderate degree 
of exposure, though it prefers shade; but, whichever 
situation it may occupy, a good supply of water at its 
roots is necessary all the year round. 
To the species and varieties described on pp. 440-4, 
Vol. II., the following should be added: 
N. affine (related). A synonym of N. Piliz-mas. 
N. atratum (dark), A synonym of N. hirtipes. 
N. atrovirens (dark green). A synonym of N. decompositum. 
N. Blumei (Blume’s). A synonym of N. intermedium. 
N. borneense (Bornean)., rhiz. wide-creeping, densely scaly. 
sti. firm, erect, naked, 6in. long. fronds lanceolate, lft. to 
1sft. long, 4in. to 6in. broad; pinne 2in. to 3in. long, about 
lin. broad, cut to a broadly-winged rachis into narrow-oblong, 
notched lobes. sori midway between the midrib and the edge; 
THE DICTIONARY 
OF GARDENING, 
Nephrodium—continuwed. 
involucre persistent. Borneo. 
borneensis. 
Syn. Lastrea 
See Fig. 583. 
Fic. 583. PART OF FROND OF NEPHRODIUM BORNEENSE. 
N. Boryanum (Bory’s). sti. 2ft. to 3ft. long, stramineous or 
brownish, scaly. fronds 6ft. to 8ft. long, 2ft. to 3ft. broad; 
lower pinne 1ft. to 14ft. long, 6in. broad; pinnules lanceolate, 
3in. to 4in. long, cut to a winged rachis into blunt, spreading, 
more or less toothed lobes two to three lines broad; rachises 
and under-side naked. sori in rows near the midrib. 
Himalayas, &c. Greenhouse. Syns. NV. divisum, Lastrea 
Boryana. 
N. Brunonianum (Brown's). sti. tufted, black, 4in. to 6in. 
Jong, densely dark brown scaly. jronds lft. to 14ft. long, 
seldom more than 4in. broad; pinne close, unequal, oblong- 
lanceolate, blunt, cut half-way to the rachis into sharply- 
toothed, blunt lobes. sori abundant, midway between the 
edge and the midrib. Himalayas (at 12,000ft.). Greenhouse. 
Syn. Lastrea Brunoniana. 
N. calearatum (spurred). sti. densely tufted, stramineous, 
villous above. fronds lft. long, 3in. to 6in. broad; pinne 
EPresne, 2in. to 4in. long, gin. to Zin. broad, cut down two- 
thirds or more to the rachis into oblique, sub-falcate, linear- 
oblong, acute or blunt lobes; rachis villous. 
involucre glabrous, persistent. India. 
Syn. Lastrea calearata. 
N. canum (hoary). sti. densely tufted, 6in. to 8in. long, 
slender, finely villous. fronds 8in. to 12in. long, 3in. to 4in. 
broad ; central pinne 2in. long, 4in. broad, gradually narrowed 
from base to point, cut nearly to the rachis into close, 
slightly crenate lobes gin. broad; lower pinne distant and 
dwindling down gradually. sori sub-marginal; involucre thin, 
fugacious. Himalayas. SYN. Lastrea cana. 
N. chinense (Chinese). cau. decumbent. sti. about 6in. long, 
slender, scaly. jvonds lft. to 1{ft. long, 6in. to Qin. broad; 
inne few, the lowest much the largest, Sin. to 6in. long, 
in. to 4in. broad; lowest pinnules much longer than the 
others, which are lanceolate, with distinct, oblong-deltoid, 
deeply-pinnatifid lower segments, the under-surface almost 
naked, sort copious, distant from the midrib. North China 
and Japan. Greenhouse. 
N. confiuens (cohering). fronds deltoid, lft. to 1sft. each 
way, tripinnatifid; lowest pinne the largest, deltoid, unequal- 
sided; pinnules large, lanceolate, the lowest deeply lobed; 
ribs densely hairy. sori large, disposed in one row near the 
main veins; involucre small, fugacious. Queensland. Green- 
house. SyNs. Aspidiwm confluens, Sagenia conjluens. 
N. coruscum (glittering). A synonym of Aspidium variwm. 
N. cristatum (crested). “This resembles N. Filix-mas, but the 
fronds are less erect; the pinne less regular; the segments 
broader, thinner, more wedge-shaped on the lower side, much 
more toothed, and the lower ones sometimes almost pinnatitid, 
the plant then forming some approach to N. spinwoswm, from 
which it differs in the much narrower fronds, with the seg- 
ments much broader and much less divided. sort large, as in 
N. Filix-mas, with a conspicuous indusium. Europe (Britain), 
&e. SyNns. Aspidium cristatum, Lastrea cristata. 
N. c. Clintonianum (Clinton’s). A very vigorous form. 1888. 
N. c. floridanum (Florida). fronds thickish, broadly lanceo- 
late, pinnate, lft. to 2ft. high; sterile ones shorter, growing in 
a crown from a thick, scaly rootstock. A vigorous form. 
N. c. uliginosum (marsh-loving). fronds broader than in the 
type; pinnules smaller and more numerous, more sharply 
pointed and more deeply cut, fringed with sharp teeth at 
their extremity. sori covering the under-surface. Hardier 
than the type. SYN. Aspidium uliginoswm. 
sort medial ; 
A well-marked plant. 
