84 STOVE TEENS. 



frond, connecting or binding, as it were, all the cross veins 

 at their extreme points. The name is derived from neottia, 

 a bird's nest : hence it is commonly called " The Bird's-nest 

 Fern;" the fronds being arranged circularly around the top 

 of the tufted rootstock, giving it a fanciful similarity to a 

 bird's nest. 



NEOTTOPTERIS VULGABIS (Common), Fig. 43. A Fern 

 rather widely distributed, it having been found in India, the 

 Mauritius, and the tropical parts of New Holland, besides 

 on several islands in the Indian seas. Fronds simple, growing 

 3 or 4 feet high ; midrib black, and triangular on the under 

 side. Spore-masses large, placed in lines about halfway 

 between the midrib and the margin, and filling only the 

 upper part of the frond. A handsome Fern even when 

 small, and increases freely by spores. It is also called 

 N. australasica. 



NEPHBODIUM. 



A rather large assemblage of Ferns, separated from 

 Aspidium by the foreign and learned botanist, Dr. Schott. 

 Name derived from nephros, a kidney, alluding to the form 

 of the indusium. 



NEPHBODIUM MOLLE (Soft). Every collector is almost 

 certain to have this very common Fern. It used to be quite 

 a weed with us in the Orchid-house, coming up from spores 

 abundantly in almost every pot, and even on the walls between 

 the bricks. Yet it is a very fine Fern; the fructification is 

 so free and lovely, the fronds are covered with soft hair : hence 

 its specific name ; and the cover of the spore-masses is very 

 hairy. The plant grows about 2 feet high. 



A very beautiful and novel variety of Nephrodium molle 

 was introduced from West Africa by Mr. E. Sim, the Fern- 

 grower of the Foot's Cray Nursery, a few years ago, under the 

 name of corymbiferum. The frond terminates in a dense 

 crest, spreading to several inches in thickness ; and all the 



