30 



STOVE FERNS. 



CIBOTIUM BAEOMETZ (The Scythian Lamb Fern), Fig. 13. 

 A strong-growing Cochin-China Fern, 

 the rootstock of which is short and 

 thick, and covered with long brown- 

 ish hairs, giving it an animal-like 

 appearance : hence its fabulous name. 

 The fronds are bipinnate. The lowest 

 pinnae are long, and gradually shorten 

 upwards. They grow erect, and often 

 reach 10 feet in length. Each has a 

 stem, and the spore-masses are seated 

 near the base. It is a handsome 

 Fern ; but to grow it well requires 

 a large stove. Easily increased by 

 division. 



C. SCHIEDEI (Schiede's). A Mexi- 

 can Fern of great beauty, easily dis- 

 tinguished from the preceding species 

 by the stalks, as well as the rhizome 

 being covered with the long woolly 

 brown hairs, and by the tree-like rhi- 

 77 zome, which in cultivation has reached 

 3 feet high. Upon this rootstock the 

 ' fronds are placed, and are 6 or 8 feet 

 ^--- long, rather drooping, bipinnate. The 

 spore-masses are produced on the lower 

 part of the pinnae, and number from 

 three to six on the margins of the 

 leaves so situated. It must be propa- 

 gated by spores, as the rhizome does 

 not creep. 



Two new species of this genus have 

 been recently introduced by M. Lin- 

 den, of Brussels, under the names of 

 Fig. 13. Cibotium Barometz. 



(Pinnule natural size, in- Q Cummingi, and C. princeps. All 



dusium magnified.) 



