48 aspi.e;nium nidus. 



An illustration of a frond will only represent a very small 

 portion of the beauty and majesty of this species; it is the bold 

 yet elegant habit of the plant which forms its chief attraction. 



Introduced into the Royal Gardens, Kew, in the year 1825, 

 by Mr. Allan Cunningham. 



An evergreen stove species. 



It has an extended geographic range, being a native of New 

 Holland, the Peninsula of India, the Islands of the Indian 

 Seas, the Islands of the Pacific Ocean, Ladrone Island, the 

 Island of Osehu, (one of the Sandwich Islands,) and in the 

 Mauritius. 



The fronds, which are simple, thick, and rigid, are glabrous, 

 three inches wide, and of nearly the same width throughout, 

 except near the apex; coriaceous, having an entire margin. The 

 form of the frond is elongate-lanceolate, with an acute apex. 

 The fronds rise symmetrically from a crown, forming a circular, 

 deep, vase-shaped hollow. 



Length of frond from two to four feet; colour a brilliant 

 shining rich green, having quite a polished appearance. 



The stipes, which is covered with scales, is only about an 

 inch long. The rachis, which is angular. beneath, is ebeneous. 



Fronds terminal, being attached to an erect rhizoma. 



Sori linear, crowded, occupying the upper half of the frond, 

 and being situated midway between the margin and the midrib. 



This is the only Ncottopteris cultivated in England; botanists 

 have, however, discovered three or four others. 



I am indebted to Mr. Masters, of the Exotic Nursery, Can- 

 terbury, and to Mr. Lamb, gardener to F. Wright, Esq., 

 Osmaston Manor, for plants of this species; and to Mr. J. 

 Henderson, of Wentworth House, to Mr. Norman, of Hull, and 

 to Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting, for fertile fronds. 



It is in the Fern Catalogues of Messrs. R. Parker, of Hollo- 

 way; J. Veitch, Jun., of Chelsea; R. Sim, of Foot's Cray; A. 

 Henderson and Co., of Pine-apple Place; Masters, Canterbury; 

 E. G. Henderson, of St. John's Wood; Osborn and Sons, of 

 Fulham; Booth and Son, of Hamburg; Rollisson, of Tooting; 

 and Kennedy, of Covent Garden. 



The illustration is from a frond sent by Mr. Henderson, of 

 AVentworth. 



