PTERIS. 



301 



P. tremula — trem'-ul-a (trembling), R. Brown. 



This strong-growing, greenhouse species, commonly called the " Australian 

 Bracken," has, as much on account of its decorative qualities as through its 

 excellent constitution, become a very popular Fern. It is also a native of 

 New Zealand and Tasmania. Its ample fronds, 2ft. to 4ft. long and quite 

 2ft. broad, are borne on strong, upright, naked, bright chestnut-brown stalks 

 1ft. to 2ft. long. Besides the terminal leaflet, 

 which consists of a few closely-placed, entire 

 lobes, there are, according to the size of the 

 fronds, from four to six pairs of lateral leaflets. 

 The upper leaflets are simply pinnate, with 

 entire leafits on each side, the largest being 

 about Gin. long and more than lin. broad ; 

 the lower ones are often very compound, 

 sometimes 1ft. long, and twice divided to the 

 midrib (Fig. 87). The fronds are of a soft, 

 papery texture, bright green in colour, and 

 naked on both sides. The abundant spore 

 masses are of a pronounced reddish-brown 

 colour and sometimes fill up the whole of the 

 leafits except the midrib. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, ii., p. 174, t. 120b. Nicholson, Dic- 

 tionary of Gardening, iii., p. 245. Lowe, 

 Ferns British and Exotic, iii., t. 45. 



Although this species is annually grown 

 by hundreds of thousands for decorative pur- 

 poses, it has produced comparatively few 

 varieties of real merit. The following are all that are in cultivation at 

 the present time : 



Fii. 87. Pinna of Pteris tremula 

 (i nat. size). 



P. t. elegans — e'-leg-ans (elegant). May. 



In this variety, which is of smaller dimensions than the type, the lateral 

 leaflets are forked or shghtly crested at their extremity, while the fronds 

 terminate in a crest of repeatedly-divided segments, the weight of which causes 

 them to droop and gives the plant a light and elegant appearance. 



