360 FEENS I BRITISH AND FOREIGN 



tinning to grow and produce lateral pinnae, in every 

 way analogous to the development of branches and 

 leaves in woody plants. The climbing and rambling 

 nature of these plants necessitates some kind of sup- 

 port when cultivated in pots, which may consist of 

 open wire trellises of a cylindrical form, varying in 

 height from three to six feet or more, which, if fixed 

 to a pot ten to twelve inches in diameter, the plants 

 will, with careful training, become handsome speci- 

 mens ; they are also well adapted for covering trellis 

 against wall or pillars. 



The fronds of the much admired genus Gleichenia 

 are also indefinite in extension, and some of the 

 smaller species, when growing amongst bushes, assume 

 a climbing habit; but in G.furcata } G. dichotoma, G. 

 Cunninghami, and G. flabellata } the fronds are rigid 

 and erect, produced from a more or less stout or slender 

 sarmentum, which is either superficial or creeps a 

 little below the surface of the soil ; therefore shallow 

 pans or boxes are best suited for these plants ; and 

 with attention specimens of considerable size may be 

 attained, as, for instance, at Kew a plant of G-.flabellata, 

 measured twelve to thirteen feet in circumference and 

 four and a half feet high, consisting of a thicket of 

 fine fan-like fronds. 



It may be expected that in such an extensive family 

 some species would be found bearing the appellation 

 of aquatics, but such is not the case ; for although 

 many species grow in wet places, such as Osmunda 

 regalis and AcrosticJium aureum, both of which love 

 water, but also flourish even in dry places, the only 

 Fern really entitled to be called a water Fern being 

 Ceratopteris thalictroides, and which is also singular 



