SMALL GROWING FERNS 27 



For the greenhouse the following are recommended, 

 viz. — 



Adiantums. — The ordinary type of capillus-veneris rarely 

 grows more than a few inches high but requires room to 

 spread ; the varieties, c.v. daphnites, and fissum form 

 more compact masses of very short fronds. A. hispidulum 

 tenellum, a pretty little Fern with brightly tinted fronds, 

 should be well exposed. A. •uenustum, as known in most 

 gardens, is dwarf, with spreading rhizomes. Botanists 

 now include this with JEthopicum, but as there are 

 several tall, strong growing varieties these must not be 

 confused with the one recommended. A. reniforme, a 

 choice little species with almost circular, entire fronds ; 

 A. rubellum, this forms a tufted mass of short fronds, 

 which have a bright red tint changing to deep green. 

 A. glaucophyllum forms a good contrast, being of similar 

 habit with fronds of a soft pale green. 



Aspleniums. — In this genus we have some very pretty 

 small growing species. A. ebeneum, A. Fernandezianum, 

 A. inaquale, A. monanthemum, and A. fiabellifolium may be 

 given, also A. palmatum, and A.fontanum. 



Cbeilanthes farinosa, C. Alabamense, a very tiny species, 



C. argentea, and C. elegans, though sometimes growing 

 to a foot or more high, is a very slow grower and one 

 of the most beautiful. Several more of these pretty 

 Ferns might be added, but it might be difficult to 

 procure them. 



Davallias. — Most of these though they may not grow 

 tall, spread freely. The true D. bullata has small fronds ; 



D. b. Mariese is also of small growth and spreads freely ; 

 also, D. heterophylla, this is referred to with those for 

 growing on Tree stems. D. nova-zealanda must be 

 grown in a cool, moist condition. 



Doodia candata should be planted with caution, for 

 though a pretty little Fern the seedlings spring up in all 

 directions, and it may became a troublesome weed. 



