100 STOVE FEBNS. 



several plants of it growing upon its trunk. In form and habit 

 it is just intermediate between the two species before-mentioned. 

 It cannot be grown in too hot and moist a place; it enjoys 

 the constant steam from an expansion-box connected with the 

 hot- water apparatus. Like P. alcicorne, it produces suckers 

 freely. 



Two magnificent species of this genus have been recently 

 introduced from the East Indies by some of our leading nursery- 

 men. These are P. biforme (Two-formed), and P. Wallickii 

 (Dr. Wallich's). They each of them produce fertile fronds, 

 which are 6 feet or more in length, and the sterile fronds are of 

 a proportionate size. We saw, some little time since, a plant 

 of P. biforme at Mr. Low's Nursery, at Clapton, which had 

 been just imported ; it was as much as two men could lift. 

 Unfortunately this individual plant had perished upon the 

 journey, but many smaller specimens were growing freely. 

 P. Wallickii has also been raised from spores in this country, 

 so that it will soon become more generally cultivated. 



PLATYLOMA. 



A genus of Ferns with a very significant name, derived 

 from platys, broad, and loma, a margin; the spore-masses 

 being placed in a broad line on the margin of the fronds. By 

 this character the genus may be known from Pteris and other 

 allied genera. The species are mostly from the temperate parts 

 of the world : hence, with the exception of two or three species 

 indicated below, they will all grow in the greenhouse. The 

 species of this genus are sometimes placed under another 

 generic name Pellcea. 



PLATYLOMA CALOHELANOS (Beautiful-black). Though from 

 the Cape, this dwarf beautiful Fern requires the heat of a 

 moderate stove. The fronds grow about a foot long, are bipin- 

 nate, with the leaflets of a triangular shape ; these are leathery, 

 bluish-green, and heart-shaped at the bale , with a thick fleshy 



