44 THE BOOK OF FERN CULTURE 



As a proof of the hardships the filmys will go through, 

 I may mention that I once received some imported clumps 

 of Trichomanes reniforme, and although they had been a con- 

 siderable time on the journey they had suffered but little, 

 and after being put into pans with suitable compost (which 

 consisted of rough peat, broken crocks, charcoal, sphag- 

 num moss, and small stones), placed in a close, shady 

 position, they soon started into new growth, and con- 

 tinued to grow freely. Todea pellucida did not succeed 

 quite so well, but some survived the journey, and good 

 plants were established. 



Although there are a good many distinct species, they 

 are all included in about three or four genera. The 

 Todeas make larger plants. The most beautiful is T. 

 superba, which has a tufted caudex, and a regular whorl 

 of fronds which are tripinnatifid and cut up into very 

 narrow segments. It is difficult to describe the exquisite 

 beauty of this fern. T. Fraseri is another beautiful species, 

 which has fronds from one to two feet long, and of rather 

 more substance than most of the filmys ; and belonging 

 to the same genus is one with very thick fronds. This 

 is Tobea barbara, also known as arborea, Africana, Vromii, 

 and rivularis ; this is not included with the filmies, but 

 flourishes best where the roots find plenty of moisture. 



Trichomanes radkans (The Killarney Fern) is one of the 

 best types of this genus, and is found in England, but in 

 some localities it has been exterminated. It is, however, 

 more common in Ireland, and widely distributed over 

 other parts of the world. There are a good many 

 species of this pretty filmy Fern. T. remforme is a 

 very distinct species, forming large masses of deep 

 green, nearly circular, entire fronds, which are produced 

 from slender, spreading rhizomes ; T. angustatum, T. 

 trichodium, and others, with small fronds cut down into 

 fine thread-like filaments. T. Javamcum has a more 

 tufted caudex and erect pinnate fronds. All of those 



