.36 NOTHOCLCENA CRASSIFOLIA. 



scales, and producing a continuous broad black border to the 

 frond. 



The rhizoma is creeping, thickly scaly, and of a white colour. 



The rachis is also thickly covered with scales of a brownish 

 white colour. 



A delicate species, requiring care in its cultivation. If the 

 fronds are allowed to remain wet they are soon decayed; indeed 

 this applies to NotJiocliloena nivea, and most of the other species 

 in this genus. In potting, not only the NothocMcenas , but all 

 other Ferns, it is a great advantage to pass the soil through 

 two screens, the one to remove all the finely pulverized soil, 

 and the second all the large lumps; when this is done the soil 

 does not settle down so closely together, nor is it so liable to 

 injure the drainage. It is also very desirable to arrange the 

 Ferns as much together as possible, either under the shade of 

 large stove and greenhouse plants, or to cover the roof of the 

 house with some vigorous climber, such as the Steplianotos fiori- 

 hundus, EcMtes splendens, Solanmn Jastninoides , or any of the 

 Passijlora tribe. With the exception of the NothocMcenas and 

 a few other Ferns, most of the species enjoy a gentle syringing 

 every day. 



It is a native of South America — Mexico. 



I am not aware that N. crassifolia is as yet included in any 

 of the Nurserymen's catalogues, 



To Mr. Henderson, of Wentworth, my thanks are due for 

 a plant and fronds of this species. 



The illustration is from one of Mr. Henderson's fronds. 



