NOTHOCHLJENA. 



603 



good fibrous peat and small pieces of sandstone in about equal proportions is 

 all that is required ; but great care must be taken to ensure perfect drainage, 

 as stagnant water at the roots is highly injurious. Finely -sifted soil should 

 be carefully avoided, as also should overhead syringings, 



NothochlfBnas are almost invariably propagated from spores, which, in 

 some cases, germinate freely, but many of the species may also be increased 

 by division of the crowns, which operation is best performed from March 

 to May. 



Principal Species and Varieties. 



N. (Cincinalls) affinls — Cin-cin-a'-lis ; af-fi'-nis (related). Hooker. 



A stove species, of small dimensions, native of Mexico and Guatemala. 

 The fronds, 4in. to Sin. long and about lin. broad, are bipinnatifid (twice 

 divided nearly to the midrib), and borne on tufted, glossy, nearly black, wiry 

 stalks 2in. to Sin. long. The short-stalked leaflets, triangular-oblong, |-in. long, 

 and I in. broad, are deeply cleft into close, entire lobes, the lower ones distant 

 and dwindling down gradually. The fronds are of a somewhat leathery 

 texture ; their upper surface and their stalks are naked, while their lower 

 surface is densely matted with sulphur -coloured meal. The brownish sori 

 (spore masses) are disposed on the margins of the lobes. — Hooker^ Species 

 Filicum, v., p. 109. 



N. Brackenrldgel — Brack-en-ridg'-e-i (Brackenridge's), Baker. 



In this greenhouse species, which is a native of Peru, the fronds are 

 produced from a thick rhizome (prostrate stem) clothed mth spear-shaped 

 scales of a rusty colour ; they are oblong-spear-shaped, 4in. to oin. long, 

 tripinnatifid (three times divided nearly to the midrib), and borne on glossy, 

 nearly naked stalks Sin. to 4in. long and of a chestnut-brown colour. The 

 distinctly- stalked, triangular-oblong leaflets are cut down to the stalk into 

 triangular -oblong pinnules (leafits) with rounded lobes. The fronds are of 

 a thick, leathery texture, their dark green upper surface being nearly naked, 

 while their lower one and the rachis (stalk of the leafy portion) are densely 

 clothed with small, narrow scales of a dark chestnut-brown colour. The sori 

 (spore masses) are of a brownish colour, and have their edges slightly inflexed. 

 — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 371. 



