1014. 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS aspleniui 



linear oblong sori sunk in single rows 

 parallel with and contiguous to the mid- 

 ribs of the pinnae and pinnules. The in- 

 dusium is the same shape as the sorus, 

 and closes over the cavity like a lid. 



Culture and Propagation. — Wood- 

 wardias flourish in sandy loam and peat 

 in moist and shady situations, and may 

 be used with great effect in corners of 

 the rock garden. All the species are 

 exotic and require protection from frost 

 in winter, except perhaps in the milder 

 parts of the south-west of England and 

 Ireland. Increased by spores as described 

 at p. 1009. 



W. areolata {W. angustifolia) is a 

 native of the United States, having deltoid, 

 ovate, barren fronds 6-12 in. long, borne 

 on slender stalks, and 8-9 or more irregu- 

 lar pairs of oblong lance-shaped, crenate- 

 serrate pinnse, while the fertile fronds 

 with narrow linear pinnse are borne on 

 strong erect chestnut-brown stalks. 



Culture dc. as above. 



W. radicans. — A native of the Canary 

 Islands, S. Europe &c., having graceful 

 fronds 3-6 ft. long and 1-1^ ft. broad, 

 divided into lance-shaped piimsB often 1 ft. 

 long near the base, and cut down almost 

 to the midrib into finely toothed lance- 

 shaped pinnules. The variety cristata 

 has the fronds beautifully and symmetri- 

 cally crested. This species is rather too 

 tender for the open air except in the 

 mildest parts of the country. 



Culture dc. as above. 



W. virginica. — A pretty species ex- 

 tending from Canada to Virginia, having 

 oblong lance-shaped fronds 12-18 in. long 

 and 6-9 in. broad. The linear lance- 

 shaped pinnse are 4-6 in. long, cut almost 

 to the midrib into blunt linear oblong 

 or ovate lobes. 



Culture dc. as above. 



SCOLOPENDRIUM (Hart's 

 Tongite). — The Common Hart's Tongue 

 Fern (S. vulgare) is one of the most deco- 

 rative of hardy Ferns. The typical form 

 has short stout rootstocks, and tufts of 

 simple undivided bright green leathery 

 strap-shaped fronds 6-18 in. long, with 

 linear and parallel rows of spore-cases, 

 covered with a linear membranous indu- 

 sium, almost at right angles to the midrib. 

 Almost innumerable varieties — perhaps 

 1000-2000— of the Common Hart's 

 Tongue are now in cultivation, and con- 



siderably more than 100 of these have 

 been regarded as first-class garden plants 

 byf xperts. The variation consists chiefly 

 in the cresting and laceration of the 

 oimple fronds into all kinds of shapes, 

 sometimes regular and attractive, some- 

 times very irregular, and, more cxirious, 

 without any particular claim to beauty. 

 This wonderful variation may vrith cijlti- 

 vation and continual production of plants 

 from spores be prolonged indefinitely — so 

 much so, indeed, that it is practically 

 waste of time to give names to any but 

 the most distinct and constant forms. 

 Some of the best known at present are 

 alato-cristatum, anguatum, capiiatum, 

 corymhiferuw , conglomeratum, Cow- 

 burni, crispum, and several finely divided 

 forms of it, such as diversifrons, grande, 

 fimhriatum, latv/m, maximum, robus- 

 twm, decorum &c. ; densum, grandiceps, 

 laceratum, marginatum, multifidum, 

 ramo-cristatum, triperaferams &c. — all 

 names which give an idea as to the 

 character of the variety they represent. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 Hart's Tongue Perns are beautiful plants 

 for shady moist parts of the rockery, 

 either growing on level ground or jutting 

 out between the chinks of the rocks. 

 During hot dry summers the beautiful 

 shining green appearance of the fronds 

 may be retained and improved by copious 

 syringings or drenchings with water at 

 eventide. Sandy loam, peat, and leafsoU 

 make an excellent compost for the plants. 

 Failing choicer positions, they will flourish 

 under trees or under a north wall in weU- 

 drained soil, but plenty of moisture 

 during the summer is essential to develop 

 luxuriant foliage. See also p. 1009. 



ASPLENIUM (Splebnwoet). — A 

 genus of Ferns with short tufted root- 

 stocks, simple or compound fronds, and 

 linear or oblong sori, with a membranous 

 indusium opening towards the midrib. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 Spleenworts flourish in sandy loam, peat, 

 and eafsoil, and may well be grown with 

 such Bricaceous plants as Azaleas, Ehodo- 

 dendrons, Kalmias &c., for which they 

 make a good carpet or border. In par- 

 tially shaded parts of the rock garden or 

 under tall trees in similar soil they will 

 also grow well. See also p. 1009. 



A. Adiantum-nigrum. — The ' Black 

 Maidenhair' Spleen wort is a pretty native 

 Fern, and grows in large tufts in suitable 



