NOTHOCHLMNA 



607 



N. distans — dis'-tans (distant), i?. Brown. 



This little gem, which, according to Lowe, was introduced into England 

 in 1823, and raised from spores in the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1836, is now 

 seldom met with in British collections ; it is a greenhouse species, native of 

 Australia, IsTew Zealand, and New Caledonia. The narrow-spear-shaped fronds. 

 Gin. to 9in. long and bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib), are borne on 

 densely-tufted, wiry stalks, clothed with narrow scales of a rusty colour. The 

 triangular leaflets are cut down into slightly -lobed pinnules (leafits) of a 

 somewhat leathery texture, slightly hairy, pale green on their upper surface, 

 and more or less densely coated on the under-side with long, narrow, rusty- 

 coloured scales. The leaflets, which are often much curled, have their edge 

 incurved. — Hooker., Species Filicum, v., p. 114 ; Second Century of Ferns, 

 t. 80. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 455. Loive, Ferns British 

 and Exotic, i., t. 19b. 



N. Eckloniana — Eck-lon-i-a'-na (Ecklon's), Kunze. 



One of the handsomest species of the whole genus, yet at the same time 

 one which remains comparatively rare in cultivation, although, according to 

 Low^e, it was first sent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, by Mr. D. 

 Cameron, in the year 1843. The plant is a native of Cape Colony and 

 N^atal, and on that account no doubt it is generally treated as a stove plant 

 and with very bad results. It succeeds best in a greenhouse, where it proves 

 most attractive, principally on account of the different colours of the scales 

 which cover the under- side of its fronds. These fronds are Gin. to 12in. long, 

 Sin. to 3in. broad, bi- or tripinnatifid (twice or three times divided nearly to 

 the midrib), and borne on strong, erect, scaly stalks 3in. to Gin. long. The 

 upper leaflets are closely set, the lower ones are more distant, and the close, 

 spear-shaped pinnules (leafits) are again divided into oblong segments. The 

 fronds are of a thick, leathery texture, smooth and pale green on their upper 

 surface, while the under-side is densely clothed with scales of a silky texture, 

 white in young fronds, but of a light brown colour in mature ones. The 

 sori (spore masses) are disposed in a single row on each segment, and are 

 somewhat concealed by the margin of the segments being revolute. — Hooker, 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 116. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 445. 

 Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, i., t. 17a, 



