2134 



NEPHROLEPIS 



NEPHROLEPIS 



to be in actual cultivation for the trade in the United 

 States, together with some formerly in the trade but 

 important because the modern varieties have sprung 

 from them. Whenever possible, other varieties have 

 been given incidental description by comparison with 

 the more important forms. In some cases it has not 

 been possible to settle the claims advanced for two or 

 more similar varieties and in such cases the varieties 

 have been given coordinate treatment with a single 

 description. English varieties about which little infor- 

 mation has been available have been mentioned where 

 possible in connection with similar American forms. 



2470. Nephrolepis Harrisii. 



In the key below dimensions given are for well- 

 grown plants in 6-inch pots. In the smaller varieties, 

 these dimensions are maximum, but some of the larger 

 types may develop leaves as long as 6 feet. 



A. Exaltata forms with Ivs. 1-pinnate or sometimes 



pinnate-pinnatifid. 



B. Length of Ivs. 2}^-3 ft. 



c. Pinnse plane, the margins straight. 



5. bostoniensis. Fig. 2469. Intro, by F. C. Becker, 

 1895. Free-growing, the lys. dark green, spreading or 

 hanging according to the light, the petioles rather suc- 

 culent, the pinnae linear-lanceolate, acute, 3-4 in. long, 

 Y<Z-% in. wide, entire or crenulate, plane or slightly 

 undulate, herbaceous, less stiff than type form, with 

 more graceful and broader pinnae. The standard vari- 

 ety and best of all for general purposes. Good as a 

 pot-plant (6 in. or more) or in baskets, on palm trunks 

 or in the rockery. It may be planted out in the south- 

 ern states. 



cc. Pinnse wavy. 



6. Harrisii. Fig. 2470. Wm. K. Harris, from bostonir- 

 ensis. Wm. K. Harris, Wm. K. Harris, from Harrisii 

 is merely Harrisii selected for the greater waviness of 

 the pinnae. See Rooseveltii. 



7. Rp&seyeltii, Amer. Rose and Plant Co., from bos- 

 toniensis. Like bostoniensis, except for the pinnae which 

 are beautifully waved and usually auriculate. Roose- 

 veltii is exactly like the Harris forms as to the undula- 

 tion of the pinnae, but is not quite so large a form and 

 can consequently be better grown in 6-inch pots. Both 

 make beautiful plants when well grown. Harrisii and 

 Rooseveltii probably represent separate sports of two 

 distinct types of Boston fern which exist in 



the trade, one taller than the other. 



8. New York, Giatras, 1913, from Gia- 

 trasii. Somewhat smaller than bostoniensis, 

 the Ivs. slender, narrow, the pinnae some- 

 what undulate, 2-3 in. long, often blunt, 

 the petiole slender, wiry. Good when well 

 grown but rather slow. Like Giatrasii but 

 larger. 



BB. Length of Ivs. 15-24 in- 



C. All the pinnse entire, not pinnatifid. 



D. Pinnse not wavy or twisted. 



9. Scottii, Jno. Scott, from bostoniensis. Lvs. spread- 

 ing, recurved, the pinnae close, revolute and recurved, 

 the petioles stoutish, rather succulent, strong. This is 

 the commonest of the dwarf varieties. When well 

 grown, it forms a compact dense cluster of Ivs. which 

 have good lasting qualities. It is somewhat subject to 

 white scale, and is slower than Teddy Jr. 



10. falcata, Wagner, from Scottii. Like Scottii, ex- 

 cept that ends of pinnae are 1- or 2-forked. 



11. Giatrasii, Giatras, 1909, from bostoniensis. 

 About the same size as Scottii, perhaps a little smaller, 

 but different in having more flexible Ivs., wiry petioles 

 and midribs, nearly plane pinnae. Well-grown plants 

 perhaps more graceful than Scottii but slower-growing 

 and therefore not so much used. 



12. Dwarf Boston, F. R. Pierson, from elegantissima 

 compacta. A little taller and more free-growing than 

 Scottii, Ivs. straighter, the pinnae nearly plane. 



DD. Pinnae wavy or twisted. 



13. Teddy Jr., Amer. Rose and Plant Co., from 

 Rooseveltii. Free-growing, dark green, with wavy pinnse 

 as in Harrisii or Rooseveltii. The pinnae are broader 

 than those of Scottii, the color is darker, and the plants 

 quicker-growing. Replacing Scottii to some extent. 



14. Wagneri, Wagner, from Scottii. A dwarf sport 

 of Scottii with the pinnae very close and somewhat 

 curved. Resembles viridissima, but more regular. 



15. viridissima, Pierson, from superbissima. Lvs. 

 dark green, rigid, erect, with twisted, closely imbricated 

 pinnae. Inherits the irregularity of superbissima and 

 represents a 1-pinnate reversion. Found to be too 

 slow-growing and too stiff to be valuable for trade. 



cc. All or some of the pinnae deeply lobed or pinnatifid. 



16. Wanamaker Boston, Craig, 1915, from Scholzelii. 

 Lvs. rather narrow, erect and spreading, the pinnae 

 wavy, sometimes deeply lobed or pinnatifid in the outer 

 halves, auriculate or with a single separate pinnule at 

 the bases, often bent forward or backward. (This 

 form represents the selection and prop, of the once- 

 pinnate type of If. often found on Scholzelii.) 



AA. Exaltata forms with Ivs. 2-pinnate or 2-pinnate- 

 pinnatifid. 



B. Length of Ivs. 2 ft. or more. 



17. Piersonii, F. R. Pierson, 1902, from bostoniensis. 

 The first of the 2-pinnate forms and now discarded. 

 Tall-growing, with the habit of N. bostoniensis, the Ivs. 

 unevenly divided, some 1-pinnate, some partly once- 

 and partly twice-pinnate, and some entirely 2-pinnate. 

 Important, because nearly all the later 2-pinnate types 

 have come from it, but not itself desirable. 



18. Barrowsii, Barrows, 1905, from Piersonii. Much 

 like Piersonii, but somewhat differently divided. An- 

 other form of this type was called "Anna Foster." 

 From this have come Whitmanii and Magnifica. 





2471. Nephrolepis elegantissima compacta. (XH'< pinna X ^2) 



