FOLIAGE PLANTS 369 



window best suits adiantums. They should be re-potted 

 frequently. It is better to discard very old plants and 

 have a succession of young plants to replace them. 



587. Pellaea, botanical classification. Order, Poly- 

 podiacese ; genus, Pellsea (Greek, pellos dusky, from 

 the dark colored leaf stalks) ; species : rotundifolia; 

 hastata. 



588. Pellaea, botanical characters. Pellsea is a genus 

 of ferns which are naturally rock dwellers. The sori form 

 around the margin of the pinnule, which rolls under, form- 

 ing a false indusium. It is of comparatively little value 

 except for planting in fern dishes. 



Habitat. North and South America, Africa and New 

 Zealand. 

 The culture is the same as for adiantums. 



589. Pteris, botanical classification. Order, Poly- 

 podiacese ; genus, Pteris (Greek name for wing, alluding 

 to many pinnate forms) ; species several, the more com- 

 mon ones being: cretica; serrulata; ensiformis; quadri- 

 aurita; tremula; Wimsettii; adiantoides. 



There are many varieties of each species. Pteris 

 hastata of the trade is botanically Pell&a hastata. 



590. Pteris, botanical characters. Pteris is one of the 

 most common forms of conservatory ferns and embraces a 

 wide range of characters. They are all characterized by 

 having the sori formed at the ends of the veins, and the 

 margin of the pinnule rolled over, forming a false indusium. 

 They are excellent house plants, and most of the species 

 are suited for fern dishes. 



Habitat. Widely distributed throughout tropical 

 countries. 



591. Culture. The genus Pteris contains ferns which 

 are most easily grown. They are easily propagated by 



2B 



