400 



MY GARDEN. 



Bree's Fern, all of which are grown in the outdoor fernery. The N. molle 

 (fig- 913) 's '^^^y common in ferneries, and may be used in places where 

 more esteemed plants will not grow. N. sanctum is a slender, tufted, 

 and most elegant fern, from the West Indies. 



The Oleandra articulata (fig. 914), from the East Indies, is rather 

 a favourite with me. 



Fig. 913 — Nephrodium molle. Fig. 914. — Oleandra articulata. 



Hooker and Baker have combined various genera into one large 

 genus, Polypodium, under which they have described 389 species 

 which have sori on the back of the fronds, which produce a fine effect. 

 The P. Phegopteris, or Beech Fern, grows better in the greenhouse or 

 in the open air than in the outdoor fertiery. The P. hexagonopterum, 

 from Canada, does well in the outdoor ferneries, as does the Oak Fern 

 {P- Dryopteris) ; P. calcareum, or Robertianum, which flourishes in the 

 orchard-house, is considered to be a variety of this. The /"- alpestre, 



and its variety P. flexile, is like the lady- 

 fern ; and the beautiful P. vulgare, which 

 grows so abundantly over the country, 

 delights us with the golden sori at the 

 back of its fronds (fig. 870). P. Plumula 

 is a graceful fern. P. squarrosum is a small 

 fern, with creeping i-hizome and fronds 

 two or three inches long. The P. verruco- 

 sum (fig. 915), from the Philippine Islands 

 is another beautiful species. The P. appendiculatum, with fronds about 

 two feet long, which when young are much tinged" with red, is very 

 beautiful ; it is a native of the Eastern Himalayas. The P. lycopodioides. 



Fig. 915. — Polj'podium verrucnsum. 



