280 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



Fernery in a moist situation, where it does not get disturbed during the 

 resting season, 



H. dulcis— duF-cis (sweet). Synonymous with H. zeylanica. 



H. zeylanica — zey-lan'-ic-a (Cingalese), Hooker, 



This Fern, native of Ceylon, the Phihppine Islands, New Caledonia, and 

 Queensland, is a plant of unique appearance, also known in gardens as 

 H. dulcis. Its fronds, which are produced from a thick, fleshy, short-creeping 

 rhizome (prostrate stem), and borne on stalks often 1ft. long, are composed 

 of two very distinct parts and of a somewhat leathery texture. The barren 

 portion is often cleft into three principal divisions, which are stalked and 

 again pinnate (divided to the midrib) or sometimes forked, their ultimate 

 divisions being narrow-oblong, Sin. to 4in. long, about lin. broad, pointed 

 at the extremity, and sHghtly toothed at the edges. The fertile portion of 

 the frond takes the form of a solitary spike arising from the base of the 

 barren segments ; it is usually oin. to 4in. long, Jin. broad, and borne on 

 a peduncle (stalk) about as long as itself. — Hoolcer^ Second Century of Ferns,, 

 t. 94 ; Garden Ferns, t. 28. Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, p. 23, t. 69. 



HEMIDICTYUM— He-mid-ic'-ty-um. See Asplenium. 



