108 WOODWARDIA RADICANS. 



An exceedingly interesting large-growing Fern. 



An evergreen greenhouse species. 



Native of Madeira, South of Europe, TenerifFe, Canary- 

 Islands, Nepal, California, Peru, North West America, Sicilia, 

 and Mexico. Liebmann found it at an elevation of from four 

 to eight thousand feet; Galleotti from nine to twelve thousand 

 feet; and Dr. Schiede at Jalapa. 



There is a variety called var. Mexicana, of Fee, which 

 is found in Mexico. 



Introduced into the Royal Gardens, in 1779. 



The fronds, which are pinnate, have oblong lanceolate pinnae, 

 about twelve inches in length, the basal ones standing forward, 

 petiolate, profoundly pinnatifid, with somewhat lanceolate seg- 

 ments, repand, the margin spinulose-serrate, and the apex mu- 

 cronate. Near the apex of each frond a plant is produced, 

 which will grow to a considerable size whilst on the frond; 

 indeed it is not at all uncommon to see plants with half a dozen 

 fronds a foot long, receiving all their support from the parent 

 leaf. 



Length of frond from five to six feet; colour bright green. 



Stipes densely scaly, the scales brown and very large. 



Fronds terminal, rooting at the apex. 



Rhizoma creeping. 



Veins reticulated, becoming free near the margin, 



Sori uniserial and costal; indusium re volute, and of the same 

 form as the sori. 



For plants of this species my thanks are due to Mr. Clarke, 

 of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasgow, and to Messrs. Veitch, 

 of Chelsea; and for fronds to the same gentlemen, and to Mr. 

 Norman, of Hull; M. Schott, of the Imperial Gardens of 

 Schonbriinn; and to Messrs. Booth, of Hamburg. 



It is in the Catalogues of Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea; E. G. 

 Henderson, of St. John's Wood; Booth, of Hamburg; Rollisson, 

 of Tooting; A. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place; Sim, of Foot's 

 Cray; Kennedy, of Covent Garden; Stansfield, of Todmorden; 

 Young, of Taunton; and Cooling, of Derby. 



The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. 



