59 



PTEEIS CRETICA, Var. Albo-lineata. 

 Hooker. 



PLATE XXV. 



Pteris hicolor, London Nuksebymen. 



Pteris — Brake. Cretica — Cretan. Albo-lineata — White-lined. 



There are now several variegated-fronded Ferns in cultivation. 

 "We have already described and figured Pteris aspericaulis , 

 var. tricolor, a magnificent Fern, requiring careful attention, 

 and a close warm stove; and Pteris argyrea, another beautiful 

 Fern, of large size, but only bearing a few fronds at the same 

 time; and now we have the Pteris cretica, var. albo-lineata, 

 which, with very little management, produces a handsome 

 specimen. 



Introduced into England in 1860, having been received from 

 the Botanic Gardens of Java. 



Very dwarf in habit, bearing from thirty to fifty fronds at 

 the same time, which remain for a length of time in perfection. 

 The sterile fronds are smaller than the fertile ones, and the 

 pinnse are broader, the former being from eight to twelve 

 inches, and the latter from fourteen to twenty inches long. 



The form is the same as in the Pteris cretica, being pin- 

 nate, with usually three pairs of lanceolate-sessile pinnse, and 

 a terminal much larger one. The longer pair of pinnae are 

 bifid, producing on their lower side a secondary pinnule of 

 about one half of their own length, the next pair sometimes 

 producing on their lower side a lobe. 



The sterile fronds, as well as the sterile portion of the 

 fertile fronds, are spinulose-serrate. 



