544 Filtces——A diantunt. 
effectively employed for Summer decoration. Indeed it is 
probable that in the warm sheltered humid valleys of South- 
western England, Wales, and Ireland, a few of the species 
from the extreme South of New Zealand and America would 
flourish with slight protection in very severe weather. The 
hardiest known are Dicksdnia squarrésa, D. untdretica, Als6- 
phila Colensdi, Cyathea dealbata and C. medullaris from 
New Zealand, and Alsdphila pruintta from Chili. We ap- 
pend an abbreviated synopsis of the British species, including 
a few other known hardy species, for which we have adopted 
what may be termed the Hookerian nomenclature. We have 
included a few of the more important synonyms, and also the 
names of the sub-species or varieties commonly seen. But 
further than this the limits of our work will not permit us to 
go. The named varieties of British species, distinct or other- 
wise, offered by Fern-growers, are now numbered by the hun- 
dred. Many of them are extremely beautiful, and worthy 
of cultivation. The species most prolific in varieties are 
Lomiriw Spieunt, Aspleniwm (Athgrium) Pilie-feéminu, 
Scolop’ndrium vulgere, Polypodium vulgare, and Aspidium 
(Polystichwnr) aculeatum. 
Sup-Orver I—Polypodiacee. 
Fronds simple or compound, circinate in vernation. In- 
dusium marginal, or dorsal, or absent. Spore-cases small, 
usually stalked, not on an elevated receptacle, partially or 
wholly surrounded with a vertical elastic ring bursting trans- 
versely. : 
1, ADIANTUAL. 
Rhizome creeping. Fronds 2- to 4-pinnate, pinnules usually 
cuneate vr uneqnal-sided ; stipes and petioles usually slender ; 
veins forked. Sori marginal, interrupted or continuous. In- 
dusium formed of the reflexed margin of the frond. There 
are upwards of 60 species, found in the temperate and tropical 
regions. “Ad/avtoy is the Greek name for the common species. 
1. A. Copillus-Véneris. Maiden-hair Fern.—Frond 6 to 
12 inches high, irregularly 3- or 4-pinnate; pinnules alternate, 
wedge-shaped, crenate, thin. Sori oblong. Stipes and rachis 
slender, nearly black, shining and brittle. Rare on damp rocks 
near the sea in South-western England and Western Ireland, and 
extending to temperate and tropical Asia, Africa and America. 
