544 Filices Adiantum, 



effectively employed for Summer decoration. Indeed it is 

 probable that in the warm sheltered humid valleys of South- 

 western England, Wales, and Ireland, a few of the species 

 from the extreme South of New Zealand and America would 

 flourish with slight protection in very severe weather. The 

 hardiest known are Diclcsonia squarrosa, D. antdrctica, Also- 

 phila Colensoi, Cyathea dealbdta and G. medullaris from 

 New Zealand, and Alsophila pruindta from Chili. We ap- 

 pend an abbreviated synopsis of the British species, including 

 a few other known hardy species, for which we have adopted 

 what may be termed the Hookerian nomenclature. We have 

 included a few of the more important synonyms, and also the 

 names of the sub-species or varieties commonly seen. But 

 further than this the limits of our work will not permit us to 

 go. The named varieties of British species, distinct or other- 

 wise, offered by Fern-growers, are now numbered by the hun- 

 dred. Many of them are extremely beautiful, and worthy 

 of cultivation. The species most prolific in varieties are 

 Lomarla Splcant, Asplenium (Athyriurri) Fllix-fcemina, 

 Scolopendrium vulgare, Polypbdium vulgare, and Aspidium 

 (Polystichum) aculeatum. 



SUB-ORDER I. Polypodiaceae. 



Fronds simple or compound, circinate in vernation. In- 

 dusium marginal, or dorsal, or absent. Spore-cases small, 

 usually stalked, not on an elevated receptacle, partially or 

 wholly surrounded with a vertical elastic ring bursting trans- 

 versely. 



1. ADIANTUM. 



Rhizome creeping. Fronds 2- to 4-pinnate, pinnules usually 

 cuneate or unequal-sided ; stipes and petioles usually slender ; 

 veins forked. Sori marginal, interrupted or continuous. In- 

 dusium formed of the reflexed margin of the frond. There 

 are upwards of 60 species, found in the temperate and tropical 

 regions. 'A&lavrov is the Greek name for the common species. 



1. A. Capillus-Veneris. Maiden-hair Fern. Frond 6 to 

 12 inches high, irregularly 3- or 4-pinnate ; pinnules alternate, 

 wedge-shaped, crenate, thin. Sori oblong. Stipes and rachis 

 slender, nearly black, shining and brittle. Eare on damp rocks 

 near the sea in South-western England and Western Ireland, and 

 extending to temperate and tropical Asia, Africa and America. 



