NOTHOCHL^NA. 



609 



abundant on calcareous rocks and also on the ground. The plant is of erect 

 habit, and, although of a somewhat stiff appearance, is nevertheless very 

 interesting through its fronds, Gin. to 12in. long and simply pinnate (only 

 once divided to the midrib), being borne on black, upright stalks 2in. to 4in. 

 long, of a wiry nature. The leaflets are Jin. to Jin. long, egg-shaped, deeply 

 cleft into blunt lobes, stalkless, and of a leathery texture. The upper surface 

 has a greyish-green appearance, produced by a fine, hairy pubescence (down), 

 while the under- side shows a dense covering of tine, woolly hairs, which are 

 sometimes nearly white, at other times, especially in mature fronds, of a light 

 rusty-brown colour. The abundant black sori (spore masses) are situated at 

 the slightly -recurved margins of the lobes, and thus appear as if furnished 

 with an involucre. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 108 ; Second Century 

 of Ferns, t. 52. Eaton, Ferns of North America, i., t. 39. 



N. (Cincinalis) flavens— Cin-cin-a'-lis ; fla'-vens (yellow), Moore. 



This very elegant. South American species, better known in gardens 

 under the name of N. ckrysophylla, is one of the best-known and most popular 

 of the whole genus. It possesses various quahties which render it attractive 

 and of decorative value to all Fern-growers. The plant is graceful in 

 appearance, and the bright golden powder with which the under-surface of its 

 abundant Adiantum-like fronds is covered, forms a pleasing contrast with the 

 slender, black, shining stalks on which they are borne : on this account the 

 plant is usually, though erroneously, called "Golden Maidenhair." It thrives 

 best in a basket, and should be kept close to the light and in a warm house, 

 at least during the winter. The fronds, which are tripinnate (three times 

 divided to the midrib), and borne on densely-tufted, glossy, chestnut-brown 

 stalks 4in. to Sin. long, are produced from a thick rhizome (prostrate stem) 

 covered with dark brown scales ; they are 4in. to Din. long, Sin. to 4in. broad, 

 broadly triangular, and furnished with leaflets disposed somewhat far apart. 

 The pinnules (leatits) are somewhat loosely set, nearly wedge-shaped, of 

 a shghtly leathery texture, and of a bright green colour on their upper 

 surface, while their under- side is densely covered with a bright yellow powder. 

 The brown sori (spore masses) extend from the edge nearly to the midrib. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 146 ; FUices Fxoticce, t. 47. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 455. Lowe, New and Rare Ferns, t. 8. 

 VOL. n. 2 R 



