428 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



climber, producing shoots 8ft. to 10ft. long, of an exceedingly tender nature, 

 and furnished with finely-cut fohage of a cheerful green colour, forming light 

 festoons that are very useful for table-decoration. It is well adapted for 

 growing in a Fern-case in the drawing-room, but in any case it should be 

 placed near the light. The plant may also be grown in a basket, and in that 

 way shows itself to the greatest advantage. A hanging basket of small 

 dimensions is of little use, as it does not atFord sufficient scope for the full 

 development of the plant ; but if a wire basket 12in. or 14in. in diameter is 

 used, and three plants are at the outset put in it, one between each chain, it 

 will, in a remarkably short space of time, make a specimen that has no equal 

 for elegance ; for while some of the strongest shoots are trained upwards along 

 the chains and in the centre of the basket, those of medium growth, by being 

 allowed to hang all around the sides, will soon completely cover it. 



L. lanceolatum — lan-ce-ol-a'-tum (spear-shaped ?), Desvaux. 



This robust species, native of Madagascar, has the primary petiole (first 

 stalk) short or obsolete, while the secondary ones are about lin. long. The 

 leaflets, Sin, to 12in. long and 6in. to lOin. broad, are divided into three or 

 four uniform segments on each side ; these are of a leathery texture, glossy 

 on both surfaces, 4in. to 6in. long, fin. to lin. broad, all stalked, and 

 articulated (jointed) at the base, which is rounded or wedge-shaped, but 

 never heart-shaped. In the fertile divisions the fructification is arranged 

 in spikes one to two lines long, and disposed in close rows along the edge 

 on both sides. This species is the Hydroglossum madagascariensis of Poiret. — 

 Hooker, Spiopsis Filicum, p. 439. 



L. Lindenl — Lin'-den-i (Linden's). A garden name for L. heterodoxum. 



L. madagascariensis — mad-ag-as'-car-i-en'-sis (from Madagascar). A 

 synonym for L. lanceolatum. 



L. microphyllum — mi-croph-yl'-lum (small-leaved).' A form of 

 L. scandens. 



L. palmatum — pal-ma'-tum (shaped like a hand), Swartz. 



This charming, greenhouse species, of comparatively small dimensions, 

 is undoubtedly the most delicate-looking as well as the hardiest kind 



