200 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



tough texture, and while in a young state, and until quite developed, are of 

 a very beautiful purplish-metallic hue, which gradually turns to the darkest 

 green. The sori (spore masses), oblong in shape and about their own length 

 apart, are disposed in one or two rows, the inner situated at a short distance 

 from the vsA^xSh.— Hooker, Species Filicum, iii., p. 71. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, I, p. 486. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iv., t. 30. 



This very useful species has produced two remarkably pretty and distinct 

 varieties as follow : 



D. a. corymbifera— cor-ymb-if-er-a (corymb-bearing). 



A garden form, for the name of which- we can find no authority. It 

 is of stiif, erect habit, with fronds seldom attaining more than half the 

 dimensions of those of the typical plant, and densely crested at their 

 extremity, resembling in that respect some of the many interesting forms 

 of our native Asplenium Filix-foemina— Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 i., p. 486. 



D. a. multifida— mul-tif-id-a (much-cleft), Moore. 



In this variety, the fronds, instead of being of erect habit, like those 

 of the species, are elegantly drooping, and instead of being densely crested, 

 like those of the foregoing variety, are several times forked at their extremity 

 (Fig. 43) ; their leaflets show the same character, — Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iv., p. 537. 



In both the above varieties, the latter of which reproduces itself freely 

 and true from spores, the foliage, of a beautiful claret colour when young, 

 gradually assumes a copper tint and changes to a dark green with age, 



D, blechnoides — blech-n6-i^-des (Blechnum-like), Cunningham. 



This evergreen, greenhouse species, which is the most sturdy-growing 

 member of the whole genus, is a native of New South Wales. Its fronds, 

 which are produced from an erect rhizome forming a short trunk, are borne 

 on erect stalks 3in. to 4in. long and completely buried under black, rough 

 scales. They are broadly spear-shaped and pinnatifid, their leaflets never 

 being divided quite to the midrib. These leaflets are about 3in. long and 

 Jin. broad ; their margins are sharply toothed, their base dilated, and in 



