30 FERNS : BRITISH AND EOEETGN. 



found as far north on "the western coast as the Columbia 

 river, it will, it may be presumed, prove hardy with us. 

 Did space permit, this list of desiderata from North 

 America might be greatly extended; but -I must pass, 

 on to the countries of tho South, which offer a rich 

 field to the fern-collector. 



In my enumeration of the Ferns of Panama, in 

 Seemann's " Botany of the Voyage of H. M. S. 

 Herald," I have described a very pretty Fern front 

 Southern Darien under the name of QlypTiotwnium 

 crispum, which would be an acquisition to those who 

 grow Ferns in a natural manner, though not suited for 

 pot culture. It is found on trees, from the branches of 

 which its tufts of long and narrow wavy fronds hang 

 down in a very graceful manner. In Darien, Panama, 

 and the adjacent Pacific islands, also, there are several 

 Tree-ferns which we have not yet got; such asHemitelia 

 petiolata, a distinct species, with large pinnate fronds,' 

 having widely- separated petiolated pinnules ; arid 

 Alsopliila clongata, a very robust species. New> Gra- 

 nada, Venezuela, and other countries north of" the J 

 equator, though explored by several collectors, would 

 still yield a good many desirable novelties to our; 

 gardens. In the former country I may indicate the 

 several species of the extremely curious genus ifame-' 

 sonia, with their very narrow, erect, rigid fronds, conti- 

 nuously developing little orbicular, concave, imbricated" 

 pinnae, and densely clothed, while young, with fer- 

 ruginous hairs; and also Dryomeneis Purdioi, a mag-* 

 nificent Fern with very deeply pinnatifid fronds from " 

 four to five feet long, having extremely broad segments, j 

 covered with numerous small sori, which may probably * 

 possess indusia ; but younger specimens than those in'* 



