262 THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



sickle-shaped, rather blunt leafits (pinnules) slightly toothed at the edges and 

 minutely white-dotted beneath. The spore masses are disposed chiefly on 

 the middle parts of the leafits. As the specific name implies, the stalks are of 

 a rough nature ; the colour of the leafy portion of the fronds is also very 

 attractive, being bright claret when quite young, but turning to a bronzy, 

 metallic hue, and subsequently to a bright green colour. — Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, iii., p. 241. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iv., t. 8. 



Fi^, 71. Pteris aspericaulis tricolor 

 (much reduced). 



P. a. tricolor — tric'-ol-or (thred- coloured), Moore. 



One of the most charming Ferns ever introduced into cultivation 

 (Fig. 71), being graceful in habit, of medium dimensions, and splendidly 

 variegated with green, white, and red, forming a striking and very pleasing 

 contrast. It is a native of Malaysia, whence it was introduced in or about 

 1862. The formation of the fronds, which occasionally attain 2ft. in length, 

 is similar to that of the typical species, from which it is distinguished by the 

 colour of the fronds : these, when young, are of a purplish-red or bright 



