12 STOVE FERNS. 



ment of the spore-masses. These are placed on the upper side 

 of the veins, running in lines from the midrib of each leaflet. 

 The fronds are various, from a simple form to pinnate, 

 bipinnate, and tripinnate, but the spore-masses are uniformly 

 long, narrow, and simple. 



ASPLENIUM AUEITUM (Eared). A West-Indian pinnated 

 Fern, with the pinnae twice-parted or bipartite. The plant is 

 easily propagated by division, as its crowns are produced in 

 clusters. 



A. BIFIDUM (Forked). A beautiful species from Mauritius, 

 with somewhat erect finely- divided fronds. It must be in- 

 creased by spores. 



A. BEASILIENSIS (Brazilian). The fronds of this South- 

 American Asplenium are simple a rare occurrence in this 

 genus. It is sometimes called " The Bird's-nest Fern" from 

 its fronds being set circularly round the rootstock. They are 

 frequently in cultivation seen from 3 to 4 feet long. This 

 is a variety of A. serratum, which it nearly resembles. The 

 same name is applied to a very different species. 



A. BEACHYPTEEON (Channel- winged). This is a beautiful, 

 low-growing, rare Fern from Sierra Leone. The fronds spread 

 horizontally, much in the same way as an Adiantum, growing 

 only 8 or 9 inches high. 



A. CICUTAEIUM (Water-Hemlock-leaved). A native of 

 tropical America. The fronds are thrice-divided ; it is one of 

 the prettiest species of the family. Increased by spores. 



A. DALHOUSIANUM (Lord Dalhousie's). This is also called 

 A. alternans. It is a native of the Himalayan Mountains. 

 The form of the fronds is very like that of the Ceterach, but 

 it is without the scales which distinguish that Fern. It was 

 introduced recently by Mr. H. Sim, Nurseryman, of Foot's 

 Cray. 



A. DIVEESIFOLIUM (Various-leaved). Called also A. dimor- 

 plium, It is a native of Norfolk Island. Though this singular 

 Fern will exist in a greenhouse, yet it thrives much better in 



