NEPHROLEPIS 



BB. Length of Ivs. about 18 in. 



19. elegantissima, F. R. Pierson, 1904, from Pier- 

 sonii. Lvs. 18-20 in. long, 6-8 in. broad, the pinnae 3-4 

 in. long, lJ^-2 in. broad, almost completely divided 

 into elongate, acuminate pinnulae, these 1 in. long, 

 ^in. broad, entire or deeply pinnatifid into linear 

 segms. The most commonly grown of the 2-3-pinnate 

 varieties. It succeeds because of a strong petiole and 

 firm If .-blade. The Ivs. are often thick and dense, due 

 to the broad overlapping pinnae. A well-grown plant 

 shows a very thick mass of Ivs. Elegantissima "im- 

 proved" is the stock grown at present and represents a 

 selected type of elegantissima which shows less rever- 

 sion than the original form. However, when not care- 

 fully grown, it will now show strong reversion to the 

 once-pinnate Boston type. 



20. Whitmanii, Barrows, from Barrowsii. In general, 

 similar to elegantissima but the Ivs. are more open, and 

 the segms. smaller, less elongate than those of the Pier- 

 son form. Whitmanii "improved" is similar but shows 

 less reversion. The differences in Ivs. result in a less 

 dense habit of growth. Reversion is uncommon under 

 good conditions. 



21. todeoides, Rochford (English). Like elegantis- 

 sima but with even more elongate pinnulae. 



22. robusta, Craig, 1912, from elegantissima. Lvs. 

 2-2 J^ ft. long, 10-12 in. wide, erect, firm, 1-2-pinnate, 

 the pinnae 4-6 in. long, 1^-2 in. broad when 2-pinnate, 

 lobed at the base, narrower when not divided, the pin- 

 nulae full, entire or crenulate. For the first year or so 

 after its intro. this form showed little reversion but 

 more recently it has begun to throw 1-pinnate Ivs. It is 

 a larger more open form than elegantissima and conse- 

 quently more hardy. From Piersonii it differs in being 

 broader-lvd. and more erect. 



BBS. Length of Ivs. about 15 in. or less. 



23. Sch61zelii, Scholzel, 1908, from Scottii. Lvs. 15 

 in. long, 4-5 in. broad, erect, simply 2-pinnate, the 

 pinnae somewhat recurved as in Scottii, often revolute, 

 the pinnulae large, J4~K in. long, entire or crenulate. 

 Under the name Scholzelii, there is also sold a 3-pin- 

 nate form which arose in 1909 at Scholzel's place but 



NEPHROLEPIS 



2135 



27. Elmsfordii. Lvs. 12 in. long, 2-3rpinnate, with 

 wiry petioles and a spreading habit. A pretty little 

 form but not well known. 



AAA. Exaltata forms with Ivs. regularly 3-pinnate or finer. 



28. magnifica, Fig. 2472, Barrows, from Whitmanii. 

 Lvs. erect, 15 in. long, 4-5 in. broad, 3-pinnate with 



2472. Nephrolepis magnifica. ( X 



which has never been given a separate name. Some of 

 these 3-pinnate plants are erect, some have spreading 

 Ivs. Both belong in the next section with the 3-pin- 

 nate. 



24. M. P. Mills, Harris, from Scottii. A twice-pin- 

 nate form with small distant segms., characterized by 

 extreme hardiness and by very frequent reversion to 

 the 1-pinnate type. The reverted plants do not appear 

 to be ordinary Scottii, but have straight pinnae and a 

 more open growth. Both are slow. 



25. elegantissima compacta, Fig. 2471, F. R. Pierson, 

 1009, from Piersonii. Lvs. about 12 in. long, erect, 

 dense, numerous. In cutting like elegantissima except 

 that it is often more divided and may be 3-pinnate. 



26. Whitmanii compacta, Barrows, from Whitmanii. 

 Lvs. 15-18 in. long, very full, nearly 3-pinnate. A beau- 

 tiful form, the Ivs. posssibly a little soft. 



2473. Nephrolepis muscosa. 



pinna XK) 



small ovate segms., K~M i n - l n g- A free grower of 

 open habit, rather light green. More like the forms of 

 the preceding section. 



29. Smithii, J. C. Clark, from Amerpohlii. LACE- 

 FERN. Lvs. 3-pinnate, 8-12 in. long, 6^8 in. broad, 

 divided into very small, close segms. r^in. l n g- The 

 pinnae are crowded so that the Ivs. become very dense 

 and are thus liable to injury by careless watering. There 

 are a number of named varieties of the same general 

 type but differing in growth characteristics. Smithii 

 seems to be the most generally used. Others are as 

 follows: AmerpShlii, Amerpohl; gracfllima, Barrowsii, 

 from magnifica; Clarkii, Smith, from Smithii, Milled, 

 Miller; Neubertii (German); R6chfordii (English); 

 Craigii, Craig, from Smithii, is 4-pinnate, with linear 

 segms., but too soft to be of commercial value. 



30. superbissima, Pierson, 1908, from elegantissima. 

 Lvs. mainly spreading, the pinnae closely imbricated and 

 irregularly twisted, firm, dark green, long-pointed, 

 10-15 in. long, 3-5 in. broad. A very interesting type, 

 though not widely grown owing to its oddity and slow- 

 ness. A single If. may be very firm and dense. Throws 

 buds with 1-pinnate Ivs. frequently and these selected 



and grown constitute the var. viridissima. 



31. muscdsa, Fig. 2473, Pierson, 1911, from 

 superbissima. Practically dwarf superbissima, but 

 makes more symmetrical plants and shows fewer 

 reverting Ivs. Lvs. 6-8 in. long, 4-5 in. broad, 

 spreading, very firm and dense with the pinnae 

 and segms. closely imbricated. Like superbissima 

 it is not widely grown. It is slow, and is also 

 liable to injury from water, the lower pinnae of 

 the Ivs. falling off. 



32. lycopodipides, Rochford. Finely divided, 

 irregularly twisted. Apparently like preceding 

 but more finely cut. Probably not yet grown in 

 the U. S. 



Additional distinct types not commonly grown in 

 Amer. and which are probably not derived from 

 exaltata are: 



33. superba, May. Lvs. 20-25 in. long, 4-5 in. broad, 

 the pinnae deeply laciniately lobed, with the apices 

 forked and crested, more or less recurved. A single 

 If. simulates well an ostrich plume. 



34. canaliculata, May. Has involute Ivs. with the 

 tips of the pinnae laciniate and crested. 



35. Wittboldii, (F.R. 5:247) is described as having 

 Ivs. 3 times as broad as the typical bostoniensis. 



Other forms which do not appear to be in the American trade to 

 any extent are: N. Bdtchelori, crisp Ato-congesta (E), Dreyeri, edmon- 

 tonifoise (E), Faidkneri (E), F6steri (E), grdndiceps (E), Hestonii 

 (E), MdrshaUii, Mdrshallii compdcta, Mayi (E), ornAta (E), phittip- 

 inensis, reciirva (E), rugdsa (E), serrulAta, splendens E), tripin- 

 natifida, washingtoniensis, Wtstonii (E), Wiidei, WiUmotse. 



R. C. BENEDICT. 



