72 



STOVE FERNS. 



HYPOLEPIS. 



The name of this genus is derived from hypo, under, and iepis, 

 a scale, the seeds being under or concealed by a scaly covering. 

 HYPOLEPIS EEPENS (Creeping), Fig. 34. A strong-growing 

 Fern from the West Indies. In large stoves, where plants 

 of dense foliage are wanted to hide any object in shady places, 

 no Fern is so useful as this. Although it may be regarded 

 as a coarse-growing Fern, yet the soft-coloured light green 

 foliage is very pleasing. We have cultivated it under the 

 stages of the stove to hide the hot- 

 water pipes, and against naked walls 

 with the best effect. There is a 

 variety with curled leaves, more 

 curious than beautiful ; some authors 

 call it j5T. repens diffbrme. 



The fronds of the species grow 3 or 

 4 feet high, and of the form called 

 decompound that is, ramified into 

 many branchlets. The whole plant is 

 covered with soft, gland-bearing hairs, 

 which give it a silky appearance. In- 

 creases freely by dividing the freely- 

 creeping rhizome, and also by spores. 



There is another species called 

 H. tenuifolia, which has a very similar 

 habit and appearance ; in fact they are 

 too much alike to render it worth while to grow both kinds. 



Fig. 34. Hypolepis repens. 

 (Pinmile natural size.) 



LEPICYSTIS. 



A name given by Mr. Smith, of Kew, one of the best 

 authorities on Ferns, to those species of Goniophlebium which 

 are densely covered with scales, as Gr. incanum, 6r ; sepultum, &c., 

 under which names they will be found in these pages. 



