LYGODICTYON LYGODIUM. 79 



~Lygodium in having netted instead of free veins, as the name 

 implies. 



LYGODICTYON FORSTEEI (Forster's). A native of the South 

 Sea Islands. It makes a dense dwarf bush, very pretty, and 

 of a delicate light green colour. The stems, as in Lygodium, 

 are wiry, and the plant can be propagated by division. The 

 fronds are very small, and produced in pairs. 



LYGODIUM. 



This name is derived from lygodes, flexible, and was given 

 in allusion to the twining habit of the plants arranged under 

 this generic term. It is a very interesting group, and no 

 collection of Ferns should be without a representative of it. 

 When in fructification they are still more interesting than at 

 other times, for the spores are produced in little spike-like 

 processes, which give the fronds the appearance of being 

 fringed. They are very variable in the form of their fronds, 

 and consequently some confusion among the names. 



LYGODIUM FLEXUOSUM (Climbing. L. volubile of some 

 gardens). One of the most striking plants of the group; 

 originally imported from the East Indies. It succeeds very 

 well, and produces a very pleasing appearance, if trained to 

 one of the supports of the roof. The fronds are divided into 

 five or six long narrow lobes. 



L. JAPONICUM (Japanese). Not so strong a grower as the 

 last, and more dense in its habits. Like the others, it may 

 be increased by division. It hardly requires a stove heat, 

 perhaps ; but with us it has always looked poor and stunted 

 in the greenhouse. 



L. PALMATUM (Palmate, or shaped like a hand). This is 

 a very distinct species. It scarcely attempts to climb at all, 

 but its fronds make a dense cluster about a foot above the 

 soil. It is a native of America. 



L. POLYSTACHYUM (Many-shooted). This Fern was im- 



