138 STRUTHIOPTERIS GERMANICA, 



fronds, and in their general appearance, that I have been induced 

 to call the American plant merely as a variety of the German 

 form. In the plants which I possess, the only difference which 

 I have been able to observe, has been that S. Germanica variety 

 Pennsxjlvanica, is more erect in habit. For the present therefore 

 we shall consider them identical. 



This ornamental species has the barren and fertile fronds 

 different; the barren fronds are arranged in a circle on the 

 outside of an erect caudiciform rhizoma. Near the rhizoma the 

 circle formed by the fronds is about six inches in diameter, 

 whilst from all of them reclining at an angle of about 50°, this 

 circle near the apex of the fronds is as much as six feet in a 

 large plant. 



Fronds pinnate, with pinnatifid acuminate pinnae, which dim- 

 inish in length from the centre of the frond, both towards the 

 base and apex. 



Length of fertile frond from twenty-four to forty-eight inches, 

 according to age and situation. 



Fertile fronds pinnate, contracted, rising perpendicularly from 

 the centre of the rhizoma, and consequently equi-distant from 

 each barren frond; from twelve to eighteen inches in length; deep 

 brown in colour; and bearing some resemblance to a bunch of 

 feathers. The pinnae crowded, linear, revolute, and moniliform. 



Veins pinnate and free. 



Sori circular, confluent. 



Barren fronds a vivid pale green in colour, gradually fading 

 and having a white appearance near the base of the frond, long 

 before the upper portion has faded. The barren fronds spring 

 up early in spring, and grow rapidly, whilst the fertile ones do 

 not appear till summer. 



S. Germanica should be planted where it can have plenty 

 of room to spread in all directions; in such a situation it will 

 in course of time form a large and beautiful diminutive summer 

 forest. 



My thanks are due to Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart, for plants 

 of the German form; and to Mr. R. Sim, of Foot's Cray, for 

 others of the variety Pennsylvanica. 



The species can be procured of any Nurseryman. 



The illustrations are from barren and fertile fronds gathered 

 from plants in Fernery at ilighficld House. 



