464 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



lasting), and the lower leaflets are hardly, if at all, reduced. N. {Lastrea) 

 patens is a very good illustration. 



lY. A section composed of plants with leaflets cut nearly or quite to the 

 midrib into toothed or pinnatifid lobes. One of the best representatives of 

 this section is the popular N. {Lastrea) erytlirosorum. 



V. The species comprised in this section have their fronds small or of 

 medium dimensions, tri- or quadripinnatifid (three or four times divided nearly 

 to the midrib), and their involucre is of a firm nature and persistent. This 

 section is well represented by N. {Lastrea) spinulosum. 



VI. The plants of this section have small or medium-sized fronds, 

 triangular, tri- or quadripinnatifid, and produced from a wide-creeping rhizome 

 (prostrate stem), which characters are well shown in N. (Lastrea) decompositum. 



YII. A section composed entirely of species of large dimensions, with 

 ample, decompound (much-divided) fronds, lift, to 2ft. long and 1ft. broad, 

 and with involucre often small and fugacious. N. (Lastrea) efusum is 

 a very good illustration. 



Culture. 



This genus includes many species remarkable for their decorative qualities, 

 and others unequalled for their hardiness and power of endurance. Such a large 

 group of plants must of necessity have a very wide geographical range : 

 therefore we find in it kinds suitable for the tropical Fernery, for the 

 greenhouse, and even for the open air ; indeed, it is well represented in this 

 country by several species and an almost endless list of varieties, all more 

 or less curious or beautiful. Many of the kinds, too, are particularly 

 interesting on account of their venation, but the principal reason why these 

 plants are so popular lies in their constitution being so robust and their 

 habits so accommodating. Plants of all dimensions are found amongst 

 Nephrodiums, from the tiny-growing N. pedatum and N. sanctum, with fronds 

 only a few inches long, to the majestic West Indian N. villosum or the 

 beautiful and massive N. Boryanum from the Himalayas, both of which 

 produce very handsome fronds from 4ft. to 6ft. and even frequently 8ft. in 

 length. Whatever be their size, however, Nephrodiums are all of easy culture, 

 a property which market growers have not been slow in appreciating at its 



