BOTRYCHIUM. 



17 



Culture. 



This interesting genus contains some very curious plants, all deciduous ; 

 but they are seldom seen in cultivation, probably on account of the difficulties 

 experienced in keeping them through the winter, when they should not on 

 any account be allowed to get dry, or death will speedily and assuredly ensue. 

 They are of little use as pot plants, but their fertile fronds have a very 

 pleasing appearance among other Ferns when grown in the rockery, in which 

 case they should be planted in some naturally damp nook where they are 

 not likely to be disturbed, and where constant moisture may be secured for 

 them while at rest. The difficulty in taking them up consists in getting 

 the crowns with their roots, as they are generally found to be deeply imbedded 

 in the ground. To induce Botrychiums to grow in a Fernery, they should be 

 moved with about a square foot of the turf in which they are growing 

 naturally, and as much of depth of the soil undisturbed. They hke to have 

 their roots covered with turf, though they should not be overshadowed by 

 other vegetation. The plants succeed best in a compost of sandy loam and 

 only a small portion of peat, and perfect drainage is essential. Propagation 

 may be effected by division of the crowns. There is no record of seedlings 

 having been raised artificially. 



Principal Species and Varieties. 

 B. australe — aus-tra'-le (Southern). A variety of B. ternatum. 



B. daucifolium — dau-cif-oF-i-um (Daucus-leaved), Wallich. 



A greenhouse species, native of the Himalayas, the ISTeilgherries, and 

 Japan, with a stem Gin. to 12in. long. The barren frond, from 6in. to 12in. 

 each way, is borne on a petiole (stalk) lin. to Gin. long ; it is either 

 tripinnatifid or tripinnate (three times divided partly or quite to the midrib), 

 the lower leaflets being much the largest. The leaflets, of a thin, papery 

 texture, are divided into oblong-spear-shaped segments Jin. to Jin. broad and 

 finely toothed. The fertile peduncle (stalk) is about equal to the barren 

 frond when mature, and bears a tripinnate panicle 2in. to 4in. long and of 

 a somewhat loose nature. B. suhcarnosum is identical with this species. — 



VOL. II. c 



