1900 SUPPLEMENT—RECENT INTRODUCTIONS, 
~ Nephrodium—continued. 
outline; pinne deflexed, then curved upwards, overlapping ; 
lowest pair usually the largest (in. to 6in. long); pinnules 
nearly triangular, cut into broadly ovate segments. sori large, 
disposed near the midrib. Ceylon, &e. A distinct and elegant 
species. Syn. Lastrea undulata. 
N. varium (variable). A garden name for Aspidium variwm. 
N. velutinum (velvety). sti. 1ff. or more in length, bright 
brown, villous upwards, scaly at base. fronds lft. to lift. 
long, nearly as broad, deltoid ; lower pinne much the largest, 
deltoid; lowest pinnules the largest, cut to the rachis below 
into pinnatifid, oblong lobes; rachises densely villous; both 
surfaces pubescent. sori small, copious; involucre glandular- 
ciliated. New Zealand. Greenhouse. Syn. Lastrea velutina. 
N. Trimeni and N. variolosum (Syn. Aspidium variolosum) are 
grown in botanical establishments. 
NEPHROLEPIS. Ladder Fern. Althongh not a 
large genus, this contains some of the most valuable 
Ferns adapted for planting on rockwork, a position in 
which they soon form ornamental masses of a striking 
and attractive character. All Nephrolepises are most 
tenacious of life, and when it so happens that, through 
want of moisture at the roots, their leaflets drop off, 
the plants soon recover; for, after a few weeks of 
attentive nursing, another crop of fresh foliage usually 
takes the place of the fronds previously destroyed. The 
fronds, which in some kinds attain 4ft. in length, are in 
most, if not in all, cases produced from crowns disposed 
at various intervals on long, thin, rapid-growing rhizomes 
of a wiry nature. This is a feature peculiar to the plants 
contained in this genus, and by which means most of 
them are rapidly increased, especially the reputed barren 
forms, such as N. Duffii, N. rufescens tripinnatifida, and 
the fertile but very variable N. davallioides furcans, 
which, when propagated from spores, produces plants 
showing their crested character in a more or less 
marked degree. Where it is desired that these should be 
increased, they should be planted in a shallow bed of 
coarsely-broken peat, chopped sphagnum, and _ silver- 
sand, in about equal parts: in this the rhizomes can 
freely ron and produce young plants, which may be 
safely severed from the parent when they have developed 
three or four fronds. Besides the usual rhizomes already 
alluded to, a few species, such as N. Bausei, N. cordifolia 
(tuberosa), N. philippinensis, N. pluma, and N. undulata, 
are also provided at the roots with small tubers of a 
succulent nature, which likewise produce young plants 
in a remarkably short time. In this latter section 
N. Bausei, N. plwma, and N. undulata are entirely 
deciduous, and, from want of knowledge respecting their 
habit, have often been lost during their resting season, 
when some growers keep them so dry that, long before 
the time comes when they should start into growth 
again, the tubers have ceased to live. All through the 
winter, the soil which contains them must be kept in 
a moderately moist condition, so as to prevent them 
from shrivelling up: this is an essential point as regards 
securing a healthy, strong spring growth. 
All the species of Nephrolepis are particularly well 
adapted for basket culture, being naturally of an elegant 
drooping character; they have also a curious propensity 
for taking possession of the outer surface of the baskets 
and growing all round them, thus making perfect balls 
of gracefully pendulous foliage, which, provided the 
plants are well supplied with- water at the roots all the 
year round,\remain a long time in perfect condition. On 
acconnt of the jointed nature of their leaflets, the fronds 
are of little use in a ent state, as they only last good 
for a comparatively short time. The plants are specially 
useful for covering walls and pillars, as they require but 
very little soil and can almost be kept thriving on 
moisture alone. Many of them may be propagated from 
spores, which germinate freely and make young plants 
in a short time. N. Zollingeriana is best accommodated 
on a rockery in cither a warm or an _ intermediate 
temperature. 
N. davallioides furcans is valuable for growing in large 
baskets, in which it never fails to prove very attractive. 
Althongh spores are freely produced, it is best to propa- 
gate it by means of the young plants produced from 
rhizomes in the ordinary way, on account of the numerous 
and extreme variations which take place among the 
seedlings, a small percentage only of which are possessed 
of the true characters of the parent. 
&c. 551 
Nephrolepis—continued. 
N. Dufii, being a totally barren plant, can only be 
propagated by division of the crowns, an operation easily 
performed at almost any time of the year, but with 
greater safety in early spring; or by young plants 
produced from the rhizomes, which, however, are not so 
plentiful as in other species. It is ore of the best 
Ferns for pot culture, its somewhat upright habit making 
it less suitable than other species for baskets, brackets, 
and wall-coverings. 
For indoor decoration, as well as for general use, 
N. evaltata has no equal,-and being of a particularly 
accommodating nature it thrives well under other Ferns 
in places which possibly would otherwise remain bare, 
It is also well adapted for planting on a cool rockery, 
either in out-of-the-way corners or on rocks near water; 
but, wherever it is planted, care shonld be taken to 
give it plenty of room, so as to ensure the full develop- 
ment of its beautiful fronds. N. eraltata is a rapid grower, 
and soon forms very ornamental masses when planted 
out; but when left alone it has a tendency to overrun 
any more delicate Ferns which may happen to be near it. 
N. pluma being thoroughly deciduous, care must be 
taken to keep its tubers, which are of a somewhat woody 
character and of a dark brown colour, in a constantly 
but moderately moist soil during the resting period, 
which corresponds with our own winter, otherwise they 
will shrivel up, and the plant will be lost. Like 
N. cordifolia and N. pluma, N. undulata produces small 
tubers, from which it can easily be propagated after 
its resting period. It is very scarce in collections, owing, 
doubtless, to its being of decidnous habit, which often 
causes it to be accidentally thrown away during its resting 
time. 
Fic. 587. NEPHROLEPIS RUFESCENS TRIPINNATIFIDA. 
To the species and yarieties described on pp. 444-6, 
Vol. If., the following should be added : 
N. Barteri (Barter’s). A form of N. exaltata. 
N. Bausei (Bause'’s).* fronds numerous, erect, more than lft. 
high, leafy from their base, and of a soft, bright green; pinnz 
bipinnatifid. 1885. An ornamental Fern, of dense habit, suit- 
able for basket culture. Garden variety. 
