LYGODIUM. 



429 



comprised in the genus. It is a native of l^orth America, where it is found 

 groA^dng plentifully in low, moist thickets, and damp, open woods, from 

 Massachusetts to Virginia, Eastern Tennessee, and even Florida. From 

 a wide-creeping rhizome (rootstock) • of a very slender nature and of a dark 

 brown, almost black colour, the extremity of which is scantily furnished 

 with short, semi-transparent, jointed hairs, rise at 

 a distance of lin. or 2in. apart a quantity of 

 delicate cHmbing fronds which, for grace and 

 elegance, are not equalled by those of any other 

 species in cultivation. The stipes (stalks) on 

 which they are borne are dark at the base, but 

 of a pale green colour a few inches above the 

 ground ; although very slender, yet they possess 

 considerable strength, as their texture is very tough. 

 The lovely fronds, which, when mature, show a 

 fertile portion totally ditFerent from the barren 

 ones, creep and climb or twine over other plants 

 to the height of 3ft. or 4ft. The totally barren 

 fronds, as well as the lower portion of the fertile 

 ones, are strictly bipinnate (twice divided to the 

 midrib) and of a peculiar shape, inasmuch as, 

 beginning at 6in. or Sin. from the ground, the 

 twining midrib bears very short branchlets disposed 

 lin. or Sin. apart. These branchlets in their turn 

 divide into two slender petioles (stalks) Jin. to 

 ^in. long, each fork supporting at its end a 

 kidney-shaped, deeply-lobed leaflet, IJin. to 2in. 

 broad, with a deeply-rounded sinus (depression) 

 at the base (Fig. 108). These leaflets, of a rather 

 delicate texture, and of a fine pale pea-green 

 colour above and glaucous beneath, are divided into from five to seven 

 oblong, blunt lobes, cut more than half-way down and apparently smooth 

 on both surfaces, although a few hairs have at times been noticed on 

 the under-side. A very ornamental character is imparted to this most 

 interesting plant by the handsome appearance of the fertile portion of its 



108, Lygoclium palmatum 

 (i nat. size). 



