DA VALLIA. 



131 



D. f. major — ma'-jor (greater), Moore. 



Although of much more robust gTowth than the species, this variety 

 produces fronds equally as beautifully cut, though not so fine ; they are borne 

 on slender stalks, and are of a much hghter colour than those of the species, 

 or of any other known form of it. 



D. f. plumosa — plu-mo'-sa (feathery). Bull. 



Perhaps one of the most elegant of all known Ferns, distinct from 

 the species by the gracefully-drooping habit and the feathery nature of its 

 pendulous fronds, as also by their much more finely-divided character. See 

 Plate (for which we are indebted to Mr. Wm. Bull). — Nicholson., Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iv., p. 530. 



D. jijiensis and its various forms are all very useful as pot and basket 

 plants, and very valuable for decorative purposes generally, making noble 

 specimens, particularly adapted for exhibition. They are all averse to loam, a 

 peaty compost of a sandy nature being that which suits them best. 



D. firm a — fir'-ma (firm). A synonym of D. Jiirta. 



D. (Loxoscaphe) foeniculacea — Lox-os'-caph-e ; foe-nic-ul-a'-ce-a (Fennel- 

 like), Hooker. 



This decorative, stove species, native of the Fiji Islands, is very distinct : 

 its habit, which is similar to that of D. ferulacea, much more resembles 

 that of an Asplenium than a Davalha. The fronds, 9in. to 18in. long, Gin. 

 to 12in. broad, and shortly spear-shaped, are produced from a single central 

 crown, and borne on firm, erect stalks 6in. to Sin. long and of a particularly 

 succulent nature ; they are quadripinnate (four times divided to the 

 midrib), the lower piimules (leafits), spear-shaped, 2in. to Sin. long, 

 and lin. broad, being divided into segments of a fleshy texture, which in 

 their turn are cut down to the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) into simple 

 or forked, linear (long and narrow) divisions. The sori (spore masses), which 

 are disposed two to six to a segment, are deeply half- cup -shaped, and situated 

 at the side of the segments, D. fceniculacea is increased only by spores, 

 as it has no rhizomes, and seldom produces double crowns. — Hooker, Second 

 Century of Ferns, t. 54. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv,, p. 530. 



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