40 The book of fern culture 



England. 0. palustris (or Japonka) closely resembles 

 gracilis, except that it is not quite so hardy, and is ever- 

 green. It is one of the most desirable ferns we have ; 

 the young fronds have bright rosy stipes and a bronzy 

 shade on the leafy portion. 0. Javanica is another 

 evergreen species ; in this the spores are produced 

 irregularly on the side pinnae. 0. Claytoniana is another 

 which has some leafy pinnae above the contracted fertile 

 portion ; in cinnamomea the fertile fronds stand erect in 

 the centre of the plant. 



The Osmundas all delight in a rather moist position, 

 and should have fibrous or a boggy compost. They 

 make roots above the surface, or what are termed serial 

 roots, which derive nourishment from surface moisture, 

 and delight in moist sphagnum moss, applied at intervals, 

 with a little artificial manure sprinkled amongst it. 

 Although they like moisture, stagnation must be avoided, 

 and they should be fully exposed to the light, and no 

 moisture on the surface of the fronds should be given. 

 0. Javanica is the only species requiring much warmth. 

 0. palustris will grow freely in heat, and will also succeed 

 under cool treatment. Other species are hardy, but 

 should have some protection such as is provided in a 

 natural state, by their own decayed fronds, during frosty 

 weather. There are several other species which might 

 be included in this chapter. The curious little Rhipido- 

 pleris peltata is an example ; the barren fronds are much 

 divided, and nearly circular, on slender stems, and the 

 fronds have two small, nearly circular, lobes, with the 

 spores covering their surfaces. This requires similar 

 treatment to that given for the stove filmy ferns. There 

 are several others belonging to the same order, Acrostkhea, 

 in which the fertile fronds are congested and the spore 

 cases conspicuous. 



