542 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



the extremity, and nearly entire, though occasionally lobed or indistinctly 

 toothed (Fig. 131). The large and prominent sori (spore masses) are disposed 

 along the margin of the leafits, and are covered with a firm, roundish- 

 kidney- shaped, lead-coloured involucre. — Hooker^ Si^ecics Filicum^ iv., p. 122. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 441. Eaton, Ferns of North 

 America, ii., t. 55. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, vi., t. 6. 



Fi^. 131. Frond of Nephrodium marginale 

 (I nat. size). 



In cultivation, N. marginale stands our winters outside very well, but 

 in that case it becomes deciduous, although it is quite evergreen in the 

 greenhouse. When planted in the outdoor rockery, a situation neither too 

 wet nor too dry should be selected for it. 



There exists in America a variety elegans in w^hich, although of smaller 

 growth, the fronds have most of their leafits twice or even three times as long- 

 as those of the type, and all pinnatiiid (divided nearly to the midrib), thus 

 making a very distinct plant. 



(Lastrea) Maximo wiczii — Las'-tre-a ; Max-im-ow-ic'-zi-i (Maxim- 

 owdcz's). Baker. 



A distinct, greenhouse species, of medium growth, native of Yokohama, 

 with fronds deltoid and quadripinnatifid (in shape of the Greek delta. A, 

 and four times divided nearly to the midrib), seldom more than 1ft. each 

 w^ay, and borne on light brown, glossy stalks Gin. to Sin. long, clothed with 

 scattered scales throughout. The low^est leaflets, much the largest and long- 

 stalked, are produced on the lower side ; their lowest leafits and segments, 

 also deltoid and stalked, are cuneate (wedge-shaped) at the base, and the 

 final lobes are oblong, unequal- sided, and distinctly toothed ; they are of 



