GLEICHENIA. 



215 



probably the reason why they are so rare. Moreover, the difficulties, real or 

 imaginary, to be encountered in the cultivation of Gleichenias have tended 

 to keep them out of many collections ; but thanks to successful growers 

 of these plants having made public the knowledge of their requirements 

 and endeavoured to simplify their culture, we are rapidly gaining ground. 



Principal Species and Varieties. 



G. acutifolia — ac-u'-tif-oF-i-a (acute-leaved). A synonym of G. qiMdripartita. 



G. alpina — al-pi'-na (mountain-loving). A variety of G. dicarpa. 



G. Bancroftii— Ban-crof-ti-i (Bancroft's). Synonymous with G. longissinia. 



G. (Mertensia) Bibreae — Mer-ten'-si-a ; Bib-re'-te (Madame De Bibra's), 

 Mettenius. 



This elegant, greenhouse species, native of Valdivia, Chih, is of medium 

 size only, with fronds twice as broad as they are long, three times dichoto- 

 mously divided (repeatedly forked), and clothed with minute blackish scales. 

 They are of a rigid texture ; their leaflets, about 6in. long and Ifin. broad, 

 are deeply cut into close, linear (long and narrow), sharp segments with 

 recurved edges ; both surfaces are of a light green colour, the upper one 

 smooth, the lower one shghtly scaly on the ribs. The sori (spore masses) are 

 almost hidden by the revolute borders. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 449. 



G. bifurcata — bif-ur-ca'-ta (twice forked). A synonym of G. flagellaris. 



G. (Eugleichenia) Boryi — Eu-glei-che'-ni-a ; Bo'-ry-i (Bory's), Kunze. 



A stove species, of small dimensions, native of the Bourbon Islands. 

 Its singular and pretty little fronds, seldom more than 4in. long and oin. 

 broad, are composed of four nearly opposite leaflets, the ultimate pair 

 constituting a fork. Their terminal pinnules (leafits) lengthen into a tail, and 

 their lobes are very small, nearly round, concave, and glaucous (bluish-green) 

 underneath. The sori (spore masses) consist of a few capsules mixed with 

 copious wool of a ferruginous (rusty) colour. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 12. 



G. bracteata — brac-te-a'-ta (bracteate, furnished with leaflets more or 

 less modified in form). Synonymous with G. flagellar is. 



