108 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



plants may, by judicious treatment, be rendered useful as pot subjects. To 

 obviate this mode of growth, the extremity of the rhizome is entirely cut off 

 when only about 2in. long, the result of that operation being the production 

 of several lateral rhizomes growing out of the mutilated one in all directions, 

 thus making bushy and compact plants. Being evergreen and strong growers, 

 P. aureum and its varieties require substantial food ; a mixture consisting of 

 about equal proportions of fibrous peat, loam, and silver sand suits them best. 

 They must also receive a liberal supply of water at the roots while growing, 

 as well as occasional waterings with weak liquid manure. 



P. (Phegopteris) auriculatum — Phe-gop'-ter-is ; aur-ie-ul-a'-tum (eared), 

 Wallich. 



A very robust-growing species, succeeding as well under greenhouse 

 treatment as in the stove ; is a native of the Himalayas, where, according to 

 Beddome, it is found at 6000ft. elevation. The ample fronds, 3ft. to 4ft. long 

 and 1ft. or more in breadth, are borne on tufted stalks l|ft. to 2ft. long, hairy 

 in their young stage, but becoming gradually smooth as the fronds attain 

 maturity. The leaflets, Gin. to Sin. long, lin. broad, and of a soft, papery 

 texture, are cut down nearly to the midrib into close, spreading, entire, blunt 

 lobes ; the lower leaflets are frequently reduced to mere auricles and furnished 

 with a prominent gland at the base beneath. The upper surface of the fronds 

 is of a bright green colour, while they are slightly hairy on their under- side. 

 The spore masses are disposed about half-way between the edge and the 

 midrib. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 238. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 187. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 203. 



P. (Phegopteris) auritum — Phe-gop'-ter-is ■ au-ri'-tum (eared), /. Smith. 



A stove species, of medium dimensions, but of little decorative value, 

 native of the East Indies, with pinnate fronds, about 1ft. long, dark green 

 above, and paler beneath. The very conspicuous veins are of a much darker 

 colour than the fronds. — Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, ii., t. 51. 



P. (Grammitis) australe — Gram-mi'-tis ; aus-tra'-le (Southern), Mettenius. 



A greenhouse species, of small dimensions, producing from a creeping 

 rhizome forming a dense mass its singular little fronds, seldom more than 6in. 



