NEPHROLEPIS. 



587 



being entire, as is the case with others of the same genus, are pinna tifid 

 (divided nearly to the midrib). This and the dense dwarf habit of 

 the plant render it very striking. It originated among some seedlings of 

 iV. pluma, and, like that species, thrives equally well in a stove or in an 

 intermediate house, and is entirely deciduous. This plant reproduces itself 

 true from spores, which germinate freely. — Nicholson^ Dictionary of Gardening^ 

 iv., p. 573. 



Fi^, 741. Frond of Nephrolepis Bausei 

 (J nat. size). 



N. biserrata — bis-er-ra'-ta (twice serrated). Synonymous with N. acuta. 



N. COrdata COmpacta — cor-da'-ta com-pac'-ta (heart-shaped and dense). 

 A variety of N. cordifolia. 



N. cordifolia — cor-dif-oF-i-a (having heart-shaped leaves), Presl. 



This is perhaps the most useful of all the known species from a decorative 

 point of view ; it thrives well under cool treatment. It is more extensively 

 known in gardens under the name of N. tuherosa, and sometimes is also met 

 with under those of N. imhricata and N. ohtusifolia. Its range of habitat 

 extends from Cuba and Mexico to Brazil and Peru, and from Japan and India 

 southward to Australia and New Zealand ; it is also found in the Mascarene 

 Islands and Zambesi Land, and on the Guinea Coast. Beddome, in his excellent 

 work on " Ferns of Southern India," states that it is common in the sub-alpine 

 jungles of the western side of the Madras Presidency. It is of intermediate 

 size and somewhat erect in habit. The fronds, borne on tufted, wiry stalks 

 slightly scaly at the base, are 1ft. to 2ft. long and seldom more than 2in. broad. 



