54 STOVE FEIiNS. 



the plant were placed in a shallow pan of water in the Orchid- 

 houso. Very little water was given to the soil in the pot. 

 The plants grew strong and spread over the surface of the 

 earth, completely covering it with their broad sterile fronds, 

 which frequently produced young plants at their ends. It 

 cannot be kept too hot in any ordinary stove. 



FADYENIA PBOLIFEEA (Proliferous), Fig. 26. A Jamaica 

 Fern. The sterile fronds are simple, spreading horizontally, 

 and frequently producing plants at the points : hence it is 

 called Proliferous. The fertile or spore-bearing fronds are also 

 simple, but stand upright in the centre of the plant, growing 

 about 5 inches high, lance-shaped, narrower at the base, and 

 blunt at the apex. The most remarkable character of the 

 species is the indusium covering the sori. These are disposed 

 alternately on each side of the midrib ; they are very nearly 

 the shape of a horseshoe, with the margins thick and hairy, 

 and are very large and conspicuous. Increased by the young 

 plants produced at the ends of the sterile fronds. A very 

 curious, interesting, small Fern, that ought to be in every 

 collection. 



GLEICHENIA. 



This favourite and remarkable genus was named in honour 

 of Baron P. Von Gleichen, a German botanist. Every collec- 

 tion of Ferns shown at our great metropolitan exhibitions is 

 sure to contain one or two examples of Gleichenia. They are 

 well deserving the importance that is given to them. They 

 are expensive plants to buy because of the difficulty of parting 

 them ; for, although they have creeping rhizomes, yet, parted 

 with the utmost care, they are very liable to die. Most of the 

 species will succeed in the greenhouse, but those below men- 

 tioned are from tropical countries, and require a stove for their 

 cultivation. A few Gleichenias have recently been raised from 

 spores. If our nurserymen can succeed in propagating them, 

 -in this way they will soon become more plentiful. 



