ASPLENIUM. 15 



feeling like velvet to the touch. It generally loses its fronds in 

 winter. As soon as this little gem is sufficiently increased it 

 ought to be in every collection. The rootstock is creeping ; 

 and, therefore, it may readily be increased by division. 



A. PLANICAULE (Smooth-stalked). An East-Indian Fern, 

 easily increased by its creeping rhizomes. It is, however, 

 worthy of cultivation, on account of its beautiful lively green 

 foliage. The stalks are dark-coloured; the fronds bipinnate, 

 slender, and somewhat triangularly-formed, growing If foot 

 high, rather erect, and thickly set on the creeping rhizomes. 



A. BADICANS (Rooting). A Cuban Fern, grows If foot long. 

 This may be distinguished by the termination of the frond 

 being devoid of pinnae, and forming a tuft that produces roots 

 first, and afterwards fronds, forming a plant if it touches the 

 soil, and also by the black stalks. 



A. EACHIEHIZON (Hachis-rooting). The Asplenium rhizo- 

 phorum of gardens. This is a beautiful dark green species, and 

 worthy of general cultivation. Like the preceding species, it 

 is easily increased by the rooting apex of full-grown fronds. 

 All these rooting Ferns should have the end of the tuft-bearing 

 frond pegged-down either in small separate pots set conve- 

 niently near the parent plant, or on the soil of the pot con- 

 taining the plant. The first is the best method, because then 

 the young plant, when established, will not require to be 

 taken up and potted, but will have its roots undisturbed in 

 its little pot till it needs more pot room. 



A. SEEEA (Saw-leaved). A pinnated Brazilian Fern of great 

 beauty. We have grown it in a ten-inch pot 3 feet high, and as 

 much through, with twenty fronds in the pot. The fronds 

 rise first erect, then gracefully curve downwards. The leaflets 

 are of a beautiful light green, shining, and very regularly deep- 

 cut at the edges like the teeth of a saw. The stalks are thickly 

 covered with narrow brown scales, and stand upon a thick, 

 scaly, creeping rootstock. Easily increased by division. 



A. SEBBATUM (Cut-leaved). The fronds of this noble 



