418 ADIANTIM CAl'IM.T'S-VKNEHIS. 



Adianium — From tlie Greek Adiantos, dry. Capillus-veneris — Venus' Hair. 



Found in Cornwall and Devonshire abundantly, sparingly in 

 Somer.setsliirc, namely, Clevedon by Mr. L. H. Grindon; 

 Cheddar Cliffs by the Eev. W. H. Hawker; and Combe Down 

 by myself; Titherstonc Clee Hill, Shropshire, by Mr. Westcott. 

 In Glamorganshire, .Galway, Kerry, Clare, Jersey, Guernsey, 

 Isle of ]Man, Barry Island, and Arran Isles. 



Occurring in Switzerland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, 

 Italy, Dalmatia, Greece, Turkey, throughout India, Java, China, 

 Persia, Syria, Caucasus, Siberia, Algiers, Egypt, Abyssinia, 

 Tcneriffe, Madeira, Canary, Cape de Verd, the Azores, Mada- 

 gascar, Mascaren Islands, Natal, Algoa Bay, Florida, Arkansas, 

 Alabama, California, Texas, Mexico, Guatemala, Parra, Caraccas, 

 Chili, Trinidad, St. Vincent, Dominica, Jamaica, Sandwich 

 Islands, Caledonia, New Hebrides, etc. 



Fronds ovate or triangular, or lanceolate, smooth, membran- 

 aceous, bipinnate or trii^innatc, bright green, slender, drooping. 

 Length from six to twenty-four inches. Pinna? and jnnnules 

 alternate. Pinniiles stalked, base somewhat cuneate obliquely, 

 aj)ex rounded, the posterior margins entire, the anterior ones 

 lobate, in the sterile fronds the lobes are toothed. Sori oldong, 

 situated on the apices of all the lobes. The indusium is the 

 reflexed portion of the apex of the lobe, thin in texture, and 

 veiny. Venation circiriate. Caudex .slowly creeping. Stipes 

 as long as the frond. Stipes and rachis slender, ebeneous, 

 and shining. 



3Iostly an inhabitant of sea cliffs. In 1860 I found this 

 Fern abundant on the sea cliffs opposite the ladies' bathing 

 place at Santander, in Spain, dwarf and stunted; hftv or 

 sixty miles inland, at Las Caldas, it was most luxuriant, 

 growing between crevices in rocks. I measured some two 

 feet in length. It was also met with in the Congosto Pass 

 near Allar, and seemed not uncommon along the spurs of the 

 Pyrenees. 



Not hardy, requiring the protection of a greenhouse, and 

 flourishing best in a Avarm house. Broken peat and silver sand, 

 Avitli a little loam, is the proper compost. 



There are a ({:vf Aarietics: — 



