586 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



and growing all round them, thus making perfect balls of gracefully pendulous 

 foliage, which, provided the plants are well supplied with water at the roots 

 all the year round, remain a long time in perfect condition. On account of 

 the jointed nature of their leaflets, the fronds are of little use in a cut state, 

 as they only last good for a comparatively short time. The plants are specially 

 useful for covering walls and pillars, as they require but very little soil and 

 can almost be kept thriving on moisture alone. Many of them may be 

 propagated from spores, which germinate freely and make young plants in 

 a short time. 



Principal Species and Varieties. 



N. acuta — ac-u'-ta (acute, sharp), Presl. 



This very handsome, strong-growing, stove species, also known in gardens 

 under the names N. hiserrata, N. ensifolia, N. platyotis^ N. imnctulata^ N. 

 splendens^ &c., is often mistaken for N. exaltata, which it only resembles as far 

 as size and general aspect are concerned. Its geographical distribution is very 

 wide, for it is found in Cuba, Gruatemala, Peru, and Brazil ; also in Polynesia, 

 Hong-Kong, Loo-Choo, and Queensland, as well as in the Mascarene Islands, 

 Zambesi Land, Natal, and Angola, and on the Guinea Coast. The habit of its 

 massive fronds, 2ft. to 4ft. long and Sin. to 12in. broad, which are borne on 

 tufted stalks 4in. to Sin. long, of a naked or slightly scaly nature, is arching 

 rather than pendulous. The leaflets, of a somewhat leathery texture, 4in. to 

 Gin. long and Jin. to lin. broad, are acute, the edge being entire or slightly 

 notched, the upper side eared, and the lower side rounded at the base. The 

 sori (spore masses) are disposed near the margin, and covered with a nearly 

 round involucre affixed by its centre. — Hooker, Species Filiciim, iv., p. 153. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 444. Lowe, Ferns British and 

 Exotic, vii., t. 22. Beddome, Ferns of Southern India, t. 94. 



N. Bausei — Baus'-e-i (Bause's), Moore. 



This garden-raised plant is one of the most distinct of the whole genus. 

 Its numerous, somewhat erect fronds, more than Iffc. long, leafy from the base 

 (Fig. 141), and of a soft, bright green colour, have a peculiarly graceful 

 appearance produced by the feathery nature of their leaflets, which, instead of 



