LLA VEA 



373 



treatment, would have lasted for years and increased in size and strength. 

 The plant is of a thoroughly evergreen habit, and in an intermediate or 

 temperate house forms a splendid subject, either grown as a pot plant or, 

 better still, planted on rockwork or in any place where drainage is perfect, 

 on the summit of a projecting " rock " for instance, in a mixture of peat and 

 sand in about equal parts ; a little crock -dust may with advantage be added 

 to the compost, as this helps to keep the soil open, which seems the condition 

 most essential to the welfare of the plant. It should be placed in a well- 

 ventilated position, and syringing overhead should be carefully avoided. It is 

 usually propagated by the division of the crowns. 



L. COrdifolia — cor-dif-ol-i-a (having cordate or heart-shaped fronds), 

 Lagasca. 



A very interesting, handsome, and delicate-fronded Fern, native of Mexico, 

 where it is found ascending to 7500ft. elevation. When gTown under suitable 

 conditions, it is greatly admired on account of the glaucous (pale bluish-green) 

 tint of its fronds, which are singular in appearance as well as elegant. These 

 fronds are produced from a close, scaly crown, and borne on erect, smooth, 

 slender stalks of a pale straw-colour, 1ft. long, and clothed at their base with 

 broad, spear-shaped scales of a chaffy nature and silver colour. They are 

 from 1ft. to 2ft. long, 6in. to 12in. broad, and tripinnate (three times divided 

 to the midrib) ; their lower half is formed of numerous egg-shaped pinnules 

 (leafits), IJin. to 2in. long, Jin, to fin. broad, and distinctly stalked, the 

 whole of a very pleasing light green or glaucous colour. The interest of the 

 plant undoubtedly resides in the fertile portion of the fronds : these pod-like 

 segments, l|in. to oin. long and narrow, have the ajjpearance of a mass 

 of pale pea-green catkins disposed in an elegantly pendulous j)anicle ; their 

 margins are of a parchment-like texture, curved in, and forming the involucre. 

 On this account alone the plant well deserves a prominent place among the 

 so-called " Flowering Ferns," of which group it is one of the most distinct 

 members. — Hooker^ S2)ecies Filicum^ ii., p. 125. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, ii., p. 288. Lowe, New and Rare Ferns, t. 30. 



