158 GBEENHOUSE FERNS. 



fertile pinnae are remarkably long, often as much as 10 inches. 

 Sterile fronds shorter, and deeply cut throughout. Increased 

 by spores or division. 



TODEA. 



This genus was named in honour of a botanist of Meck- 

 lenburg, who paid a good deal of attention to cryptogamic 

 plants his name was H. Julius Tode. It contains several 

 species, and they differ most remarkably from each other. 



TODEA AFBICANA (African). A native of the Cape of Good 

 Hope. It has a short, thick, erect stem, so that it approaches 

 nearly to a tree Fern. The fronds are 3 or 4 feet in height ; 

 and are twice-divided. As the fronds stand somewhat erect, 

 with tops gracefully arching over, the plant makes a truly 

 noble specimen, well suited for exhibition. T. rivularis very 

 closely resembles, if it is not identical with, the African 

 species. It is a native of Australia. 



T. HYMENOPHYLLOIDES (Filmy-Fem-like). It is also quite 

 as often called T, pellucida, and both of these names give a 

 very good idea of the appearance of the plant. It is a native 

 of New Zealand, and grows in great masses in the swamps 

 there, just as the Royal Fern (Osmunda) does in Europe. It 

 was one of the last novelties introduced by Messrs. Loddiges, 

 whose name will long retain a place in the horticultural history 

 of our country. The finely- divided, light green, semi-trans- 

 parent fronds of this plant make it a universal favourite. We 

 have cultivated this plant under a hand-glass ; but we have 

 also tried it without, and find it succeeds quite as well, though 

 the fronds looked so very delicate that we were at first afraid 

 to try it. 



Under the name of T. superba, Mr. Veitch has introduced 

 another exquisite Fern, even more beautiful than the last, and 

 nearly related to it, though it will probably be considered a 

 distinct species. 



