398 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



shorter very gradually. The leaflets of the fertile fronds are very numerous, 

 narrowly linear, quite entire, 2in. to Sin. long, and set |in. apart. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 181. 



L. L'Herminieri— L'Her-min-i-e'-ri (L'Herminier's), Bory. 



This very handsome, stove species, of small dimensions, native of 

 Tropical America, its habitat extending from the West Indies and Columbia 

 southward to Chili, is as distinct as it is beautiful. Although not really 

 an arborescent kind, it nevertheless forms a slender, wiry stem or trunk, 

 densely clothed with narrow, dark brown scales, on which its prettily- 

 coloured fronds are very closely set, forming plants of a very compact 

 habit and somewhat pyramidal in shape. The barren fronds, which are 

 broadly spear-shaped, 9in. to 15in. long, and 3in. to 4in. broad, are very 

 numerous and disposed in a somewhat erect position, which, on account of 

 their stiff, leathery texture, they retain as long as they remain on the plant. 

 They are furnished with leaflets about 2in, long, Jin. broad, and rounded or 

 somewhat blunt at the extremity ; a few of the lower ones are suddenly cut 

 down into mere auricles. The fertile fronds are distinctly pinnate (divided 

 to the midrib) ; the narrow leaflets are cut down quite to the rachis (stalk 

 of the leafy portion), the lower ones being Jin. to lin. apart at the 

 base. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iii., p. 9 ; Garden Ferns, t. 40. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 294. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 iv., t. 63. 



L. HHerminieri is a most attractive Fern, as its foliage when young is 

 of a beautiful crimson colour, changing with age to a dark glossy green. 

 It is, unfortunately, not very common in collections, although now and 

 then fine specimens may be seen in which several shoots have started at 

 different intervals from the side of the main trunk, and developed so as to 

 form a four- or six-branched plant, which is then very decorative. Besides 

 being one of the Lomarias most sensitive to moisture on the fronds, it is 

 also one requiring peat and sand only to thrive well, as loam, unless very 

 light and fibrous, is injurious to its roots. 



L. longifolia — lon-gif-oF-i-a (long-fronded). This is identical with 

 L. procera ornifolia. 



