PELL^A. 



45 



best illustrating this section is P. atropurpurea. Two other species formerly 

 known under the name Allosorus are now classed under Crypto gramme and 

 Pteris respectively. 



Cheiloplecton (Cheil-op-lec'-ton), Fee. The foliage of the plants comprised 

 in this section is either of a soft, papery texture or somewhat leathery, and 

 the veins are clearly visible ; the involucre is broad, and, in most of the 

 species, is rolled over the spore masses till full maturity. This section is best 

 represented by P. gracilis. 



HoLCOCHLiENA (Holc-och-he'-na), Baker. In this very small section the 

 plants much resemble in texture those of Platyloma, and are provided with 

 the same very narrow involucre ; in fact they only differ through their 

 reticulated venation (netted veins), as may be remarked in P. Burheana. 



Platyloma (Plat-yl-o'-ma), J. Smith. This forms perhaps the most 

 distinct section of the genus, the fronds of the plants belonging to it being of 

 a leathery texture, with the veins usually hidden and the ultimate segments 

 broad and flat. Another distinctive character resides in the nature of the 

 involucre, which is so narrow that it is soon hidden by the fruit. A very 

 good representative of this section is P. rotundifolia. 



Culture. 



This genus contains many gems among Ferns which, as regards beauty 

 and usefulness, may be said to vie with Cheilanthes, Gymnogramme, and 

 Nothochlama. Coming as they do from various and distantly -situated parts 

 of the globe— from North and South America, New Zealand, the Himalayas, 

 the Cape of Grood Hope, Madagascar, &c. — they are well adapted for the 

 ornamentation of the stove and of the greenhouse alike ; such species as 

 P. falcata and P. rotundifolia are, in fact, very nearly hardy in some favoured 

 parts of this country. All the Pellaeas are of small or medium dimensions, 

 and are very useful for planting in rockeries or in small hanging baskets, in 

 which positions they are much more effective than when grown in pots. The 

 greater number of these plants being found growing in a natural state amongst 

 the crevices of rocks, it is at once obvious that they require but little soil, 

 and that a comparatively exposed situation suits them best. They flourish 

 in a compost of a light and very porous nature, such as a mixture of two 



