40 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



fronds, which are borne on firm, erect, naked stalks 1ft. to l£ft. long, and 

 are of variable length and more or less graceful habit, according to the 

 position in which the plants grow, are barren and strictly bipinnate (twice 

 divided to the midrib). When fertile they have their upper part transformed 

 into a bipinnate, panicled mass of fructification formed of cylindrical leafits 

 (see Fig. 13, reduced from Col. Beddome's " Ferns of Southern India," by 

 the kind permission of the author). The barren leaflets, Gin. to 1 2m. long 

 and Sin. to 4in. broad, are furnished with stalkless or short- stalked leafits 

 lin. to Sin. long, Jin. to fin. broad, of a soft, papery texture, and of a full, 

 herbaceous green colour. — Hooker, British Ferns, t. 45. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, ii., p. 530. Eaton, Ferns of North America, i., t. 28. Beddome, 

 Ferns of Southern India, t. 76. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, viii., t. 3. 

 Druery, Choice British Ferns, p. 113. 



If grown in pots, the Royal Fern must have good drainage and an 

 abundant and continuous supply of water. It is easy of cultivation, within 

 the reach of all Fern-lovers, and may be readily propagated from spores, 

 which germinate freely. 



O. r. cristata— cris-ta'-ta (crested), Moore. 



This very decorative form is the only really striking British variety of 

 the Royal Fern. It differs essentially from the typical species, not only in 

 its totally distinct habit, but also in the size of its fronds, which are much 

 shorter and much more massive : not only is their summit heavily tasselled, 

 but all the leaflets bear at their extremity a large, overlapping crest, 

 which of course gives the plant a more drooping aspect. The whole plant, 

 of a compact habit, seldom reaches over 2ft. in height, and is of a darker 

 green colour than the species. The foliage, being of a substantial texture, 

 possesses the advantage of remaining on the plant a much longer time than 

 that of any other Osmunda of the bipinnate section. 0. r. cristata is quite 

 as hardy as the popular species, and readily reproduces itself from spores, 

 which are very abundant. — Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, ii., p. 530. 

 Druery, Choice British Ferns, p. 114. 



O. r. gracilis — grac'-il-is (slender), Link. 



This variety, which is also found in gardens under the name of 

 0. spectabilis, is a charming, delicate-looking Fern, native of North America, 



