336 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



in a shady place, they thrive luxuriantly in and are not averse to strong 

 light. They also enjoy an abundance of water at the roots, especially from 

 May to October, On account of their robust habit, these Ferns are well 

 adapted for the decoration of the warm rockery where their foliage, of 

 a massive nature, forms a striking contrast with that of plants with more 

 finely-divided fronds. 



Species. 



H. Brownii — Brown'-i-i (Brown's), /. Smith. 



This singular, handsome, and strikingly-distinct Fern, native of Trinidad 

 and Guiana, is little known in cultivation in this country. It is an evergreen. 



fig. 86. Frond of Hy pod err is Brownii 

 (i nat. size). 



stove species, producing from a short -creeping and scaly rhizome (prostrate 

 stem) of a woody nature fronds of a light green colour, borne on stout stalks 

 densely covered with diminutive, whitish scales. The leafy portion of the fronds 

 is either undivided or three-lobed (Fig. 86) when mature, and the lateral lobes 



