404 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



habitats. It is undoubtedly one of the most ornamental kinds comprised 

 in the genus, and one which is very showy when planted out on cool 

 rockwork, in a rich, open soil, where its underground rhizomes (stems) 

 can run freely and produce a quantity of young plants in all directions, 

 by which means it is easily propagated. Its beautiful, pinnate (once-divided) 

 fronds are produced from a decumbent stem or trunk of a fleshy nature, 

 and have a gracefully arching habit, although of a very tough, parchment- 

 like texture, and borne on long, stiff stalks of a reddish colour — characters 

 by which it is readily distinguished from the other forms of L. jwocera. 

 It is not an arborescent kind : on the contrary, the trunk generally creeps 

 on the surface of the ground without even making an attempt at taking 

 an upright or even oblique position. It is, however, a gigantic -growing 

 Fern, as its barren fronds, which are of a very dark green colour, often 

 attain 4ft, and even 5ft. in length, inclusive of their stalks. The fertile 

 fronds, seldom more than 2Jft. high, are of erect habit, and are furnished 

 with contracted leaflets set a little distance apart and usually more or 

 less curved. Although it has been known in many favoured situations 

 to stand the rigour of our winters unprotected, this variety is, nevertheless, 

 better adapted for the cool greenhouse.— iT'oo^-er, Synopsis Filimim, p. 179. 

 NicJioho?!, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 293. 



L. p. Duttoni — ^Dut'-ton-i (Button's), Button. 



This exceedingly elegant variety, not yet in commerce, was originally 

 found by Mr. John Dutton, of Christ Church, New Zealand, who informs us 

 that he has had the plant in his collection for twelve years, during which 

 time it has proved constant, but, unfortunately, also quite barren, so that 

 its propagation has only been effected by means of the stolons (underground 

 offsets), which, like the typical species, it produces sparingly. The chief 

 points of difference, as compared with L. procera, are the more leafy character 

 of the barren fronds, the long, narrow, whip-like leaflets of the mock-fertile 

 fronds, which are produced in unusual abimdance and disposed in the centre 

 of the plant, and the absence of fructification. The last point is very 

 interesting, as these fronds present much the same appearance as do the 

 fertile fronds of the type, but are wholly sterile. For the above information 

 we are indebted to the Editors of the Gardeners'' Magazine. 



