114 STOVE FEENS. 



These points must, of. course, be kept in mind in their cultiva- 

 tion. The safest way is to grow them beneath a bell or hand 

 glass, to sprinkle overhead frequently in summer, and to guard 

 against bright sunshine. The shallow boxes or pans in which 

 they are grown should be well drained ; for, although they like 

 plenty of moisture, yet they object, as most plants do, to 

 stagnant water. Neither should there be too much soil about 

 the roots ; they like to cling to the wet surface of a bit of 

 porous stone. There are two distinct habits of growth in this 

 family: one set produce creeping rhizomes, and may be 

 increased by division ; the others produce their fronds in 

 clusters, and can be propagated but slowly. 



TEICHOMANES ANCEPS (Spreading). This very beautiful 

 species was introduced from the West Indies. The fronds are 

 produced in a cluster from one crown, and not along a creeping 

 rhizome, They are a foot long, spreading out horizontally 

 from the top of the stipes, dark green, much divided. The 

 bell-like spore-masses hang downwards from the fronds. 



T. BANCEOFTII (Bancroft's). Also a West-Indian species. 

 It is a very small and beautiful plant, delighting to creep over 

 the stump of a tree or a bit of porous sandstone. The fronds 

 are once-divided, and only about 1 inch long. 



T. CEISPUM (Crisped). The almost pellucid fronds of this 

 plant are about a foot long, once-divided, light green and hairy. 

 It grows in tufts. 



T. KEAUSSII (Krauss's). A small creeping Fern from the 

 West Indies. The fronds oval in outline, once, or in the lower 

 divisions twice-divided. It is often imported upon the stumps 

 of Palm trees, or tree Ferns. 



T. MUSCOIDES (Moss-like). This is one of the most easily- 

 grown kinds ; it will bear parting well and grows freely. The 

 fronds are produced thickly, and give one, from their colour 

 and transparency, an idea of a mass of seaweed fresh from the 

 ocean. It came from Jamaica originally, but is now pretty 

 plentiful. 



