86 THE BOOK OF FERN CULTURE 



LOMARIAS, BLECHNUMS, AND DOODIAS 



The two genera Lomarias and Blechnums are so closely 

 allied that it is difficult to separate them. Take Lomaria 

 gibba, this has the congested fertile fronds while the variety 

 platyptcra, has what appears to be the spore cases on the 

 mid rib of the leafy fronds. I have found many seedlings 

 of this among those of gibba, but have never succeeded in 

 raising any from its own spores. And it may be added 

 that platyptera in appearance more closely resembles 

 Blechnum Braziliense. For all practical purposes it may 

 be as well to refer to them under the names that they 

 are most generally known by. Most of the Lomarias 

 come from the temperate regions of Australia, New 

 Zealand, and Chili, and though usually classed as green- 

 house Ferns, they succeed better when given more 

 warmth, especially during the time they are growing. 

 They are not so particular as to compost so long as it is 

 open and porous, with good drainage. As with most 

 Ferns which make stems, they like moisture from 

 below and a dry surface above the fronds, and a little 

 sphagnum moss bound round the stems gives them 

 considerable assistance. 



Lomaria gibba is one of the most popular species. Of 

 this we have considerable variation in that known as the 

 ordinary type, and in addition to the one referred to 

 above there are several distinct varieties including a 

 crested form. 



L. ciliata is another useful species of which we have 

 many distinct varieties and several appear to bear some 

 affinity to L. gibba : grandis, major, and princeps are all far 

 superior to the ordinary type. Most of those which 

 make stems are referred to in the chapter on Tree Ferns. 

 Lomaria Pattersoni elongata is quite a distinct species, 

 having narrow fronds, sometimes lobed or pinnatifid 

 when the plants are growing vigorously, the young 



