340 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



This is a plant very easily managed, and one which with ordinary 

 care readily makes a pretty specimen, as the fast-creeping rhizomes soon 

 spread in all directions. 



H. anthriscifolia — an-thris'-cif-or-i-a (Chervil-leaved), Presl. 



A very robust-growing, greenhouse species, native of Bourbon, Mauritius, 

 and Fernando Po, with ample fronds of a thin, papery texture, which are 



said by Bojer to attain 18ft. m 

 length (?). The fronds are quadripin- 

 natifid (four times divided nearly to the 

 midrib) and borne on strong, erect, 

 straw-coloured stalks Ift. to 2ft. long, 

 rather rough with small raised points ; 

 then* lower leaflets, 1ft. or more in 

 length and 4in. to Gin. in breadth, are 

 divided into spear-shaped, distantly- 

 placed pinnules (leafits), the segments 

 of which are cut down to the midrib 

 into small, oblong, deeply -pinnatificl divi- 

 sions, in the lower sinuses (notches) 

 of which the spore masses are disposed 

 two to four together (Fig. 87). — Hooker^ 

 Species FUicum, ii., p. 66, t. 95a. 



The above-described plant bears no 

 resemblance to the one which is ex- 

 tensively found in gardens under the 

 name of R. anthriscifolia^ for which we 

 have been unable to find any authority. 

 The garden plant variously known as 

 Hyjjolepis, Cheilanthes, and Microlejna 

 anthriscifolia, is a charming Fern of 

 dwarf dimensions, said to be native of 

 South Africa. It is of a deciduous 

 in the winter), and quite pecuhar in growth, its 

 are four times divided nearly to the midrib. 



Fig. 87. Pinna and Pinnule of Hypolepis antiiriscifolia 

 (a, Pinna, J nat. size ; 6, Pinnule, nafc. size). 



nature (losing its fi-onds 

 beautiful fronds, which 



