134 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



3in. to 6in. long, lin. broad, of a leathery texture, smooth on both surfaces, and 

 shortly stalked ; the barren ones are spear-head-shaped, entire (undivided) or 

 sometimes slightly lobed at the base, while the fertile ones are narrower and 

 deeply notched (Fig. 30). The sori (spore masses) are disposed two to ten 

 to a lobe. — Hooker^ Species Filicum^ i., p. 152. Nicholson^ Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 446. Lowe, Ferns British atid Exotic, viii., t. 19. Beddome, 

 Ferns of British India, t. 100. 



This plant is particularly well adapted for growing on a Tree- Fern trunk, 

 in which position it is shown to great advantage. When grown in a pan or 

 pot it requires very little soil, as it is only a surface -rooting species. 



D. (Microlepia) hirsuta— Mi-crol-ep'-i-a ; hir-su'-ta (hairy), Swartz. 



This very interesting and decorative, gTeenhouse species, native of Japan 

 and Tsus-Sima, is totally distinct from all other Davallias through the colour, 

 the texture, and the form of its handsome, narrow-spear-shaped fronds. These 

 fronds, 6in. to 9in. long, Sin. broad, borne on slender, erect, hairy stalks 3in. 

 to 4in. long, and abundantly produced from equally hairy, slender, creeping 

 rhizomes (prostrate stems), are three times pinnatifid (cut nearly to the 

 midrib). Their leaflets, of a soft, papery texture, are cut down to a broadly- 

 wmged rachis (stalk) into oblong, rather sharply-toothed lobes ; both surfaces 

 are softly hairy. The sori (spore masses), disposed two to six to a segment, 

 are situated in the teeth on the margin. — Hooker, Second Ceriturij of Ferns, 

 t. 96 ; Synoims Filicum, p. 98. 



D. hirsuta is of great service wherever hanging baskets of moderate 

 dimensions are required, few Ferns being better adapted for that purpose. Its 

 narrowly-lanceolate fronds, of soft texture and pendulous habit, are very 

 ornamental, especially when seen from below, their pellucid character being 

 then shown oif to advantage. Even the rhizomes are ornamental when trained 

 romid a basket, the long, shaggy, hght brown hairs with which they are 

 densely clothed rendering them interesting. The plant may also be grown 

 with advantage in the rockery, but in that case it should be located on 

 a prominent piece of rock where a comparatively large surface can be secured, 

 to allow its rhizomes full development. The whole plant seldom measures 

 more than about IJft. in height, and is of a pleasing soft pale green colour 

 throughout the year. 



