620 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



rhizome (prostrate stem) densely covered with rigid, narrow, nearly black 

 scales, and borne on tufted, black, wiry stalks 4in. to 6in, long. The upper 

 leaflet is simple ; the central ones are spear-shaped, and cut down to the 

 rachis (stalk) at the base into oblong lobes ; and the lowest pair have their 

 lowest pinnules (leafits) much prolonged and deeply cleft. The fronds are of 

 a somewhat leathery texture ; their upper surface is naked and pale green, 

 while their under-side is coated with either white or yellow powder, with 

 which the black sori (spore masses) form a very pretty contrast. — Hooker^ 

 Species Filicum, v., p. 111. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 456. 



N. (Cincinalis) tenera — Cin-cin-a'-Hs ; ten'-er-a (tender), Gilles. 



A very pretty, greenhouse species, found growing naturally in Chili, 

 Bolivia, and Peru, also in Southern Utah. Its predilection for crevices of 

 perpendicular rocks at a high altitude accounts for the difficulties generally 

 encountered in its culture when, as is nearly always the case, it is subjected 

 to warm treatment. A greenhouse temperature is all that is required in 

 order to grow it successfully. From a central crown, chaffy with narrow 

 scales of a bright rusty-brown colour, are produced the egg-shaped fronds, 

 oin. to 6in. long and IJin. to 2in. broad ; these in full-grown plants are 

 tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib), with numerous rather distant, 

 mostly opposite leaflets, and somewhat heart-shaped leafits, usually long- 

 stalked, and of a pale glaucous (bluish-green) colour on both surfaces. The 

 leafits are entirely covered with spore masses of a peculiar dark brown 

 colour. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 112. Bota?iical Magazine, t. 3055. 

 Eaton, Ferns of North America, i., t. 43. Loive, Ferns British and 

 Exotic, i., t. 39. 



N. (Cincinalis) trichomanoides — Cin-cin-a'-lis ; trich-om-an-6-i'-des 

 (Trichomanes-like), R. Brown. 

 Undoubtedly this is one of the handsomest among the rare species 

 met with in collections, and one which, when well grown, never fails to 

 attract attention. The particularly decorative and drooping habit of its 

 narrow fronds. Gin. to 12in. long and rarely more than IJin. broad, the 

 peculiar white colour of their under -surface, due to a combination of white, 

 stellate (star-like) scales and fine farinose powder intermixed, render this 



