350 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



whole under- surface of the leafits on which they are placed (Fig. 99). — 

 Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 427. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 iv., p. 50. 



As a decorative Fern this has few equals, especially where plants are 

 required for very small fancy vases. Grood plants of it can be grown in 

 comparatively small pots, and its lasting qualities are unsurpassed by any 

 other known Fern grown for the decoration of the drawing-room, it being 

 but little affected by smoke or gas. 



T. b. Vromii — Vrom'-i-i (Vrom's). 



For the name of this variety, which was originally introduced into 

 England from Belgium, we cannot find any authority. The plant itself is 

 quite distinct from T. barbara : its fronds are much longer, less triangular 

 in shape, and of a pale green colour ; they are borne on shorter stalks, 

 being furnished with leaflets nearly to their base, and these are also of 

 a longer shape and less distinctly toothed. This variety, which is a quicker 

 grower than T. barbara, possesses the same decorative qualities as that 

 useful species. In gardens it is known simply under the name of 

 T. Vromii. 



T. (Leptopteris) Fraseri — Lep-top'-ter-is ; Fra'-ser-i (Fraser's), Hooker- 

 and Greville. 



This species, which is the strongest-growing and also the least pellucid 

 of all plants in the section Leptopteris, is a native of the Blue Mountains, 

 Australia, where it is said to be rare, and New Caledonia. It never forms 

 a stem, but with age produces a fibrous trunk much in the same way as 

 Osmundas do, and this measures sometimes ljft. to 2ft. high. The fronds, 

 which are distinctly bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib), are borne on 

 firm, erect, naked stalks Gin. to 9in. long ; they are often 2ft. long, 1ft. broad, 

 and furnished with closely-set, spear-shaped leaflets 4in. to Gin. long, narrowly 

 winged along the midrib, and divided into narrow-oblong leafits which are very 

 sharply toothed. The general colour of the plant is a bright light green, 

 forming a pleasing contrast with the light red colour of the stalks when 

 young. — Hooker and Greville, Icones Filicum, t. 101. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, iv., p. 50. 



