404 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS, 



upper surface when mature — all characters which do not exist in W. radicans. 

 W. orientalis is a strong-growing plant with fronds 4ft. to 8ft. long and ljft. 

 to 2ft. broad, borne on stout, round stalks densely clothed at the base with 

 large, chaffy, pale, spear-shaped scales. The spear-shaped leaflets, sometimes 

 more than lft. long, are cut clown below nearly to the rachis into wavy or 

 deeply-cleft leafits sometimes 4in. long, those of the under-side being usually 

 shorter and the base of the leaflets being deprived of them. — Hooker, SjJecies 

 Filicum, hi., p. 68. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 217 



W. radicans — ra-di'-cans (rooting), Smith. 



This exceedingly handsome, strong-growing, evergreen Fern derives its 

 specific name from the viviparous character of its fronds, which, unlike those 

 of the foregoing species, have only from two' to four large bulbils produced at 

 their extremity ; these root into any damp material with which they may be 

 brought into contact, rapidly forming young plants similar to the parent. It 

 is a native of Madeira, the Canary Islands, the South of Europe, Peru, Mexico, 

 &c. In North America, Eaton says ("Ferns of North America," vol. ii., 

 p. 118), it is found "by living streams in shaded places, especially in 

 valleys and canons of the coast ranges, and of the Sierra also, in California 

 from Long Valley to San Diego, and other localities." Beddome gives it as 

 a native of the Himalaya Mountains, where it is found at altitudes varying 

 between 4000ft. and 5000ft. Lowe also states ("Ferns British and Exotic," 

 vol. iv., p. 108) that Leibmann found it at elevations of from 4000ft. to 

 8000ft. ; Galeotti from 9000ft. to 12,000ft., and Dr. Schiede at Jalapa. He 

 adds that it was introduced into the Royal Gardens in 1779. Its elegantly 

 pendulous fronds, borne on strong, round stalks lft. to 2ft. long, are 3ft. to 

 6ft. long, ljft. to 2ft. broad, and simply pinnate. The oblong-spear-shaped 

 leaflets, about lft. long, are cut down below within a short distance of 

 the rachis into finely-toothed, spear-shaped, bright green leafits. Near the 

 extremity of each frond usually one plant (sometimes as many as four) is 

 produced, which will grow to a considerable size whilst on the frond ; indeed, 

 it is not at all uncommon to see plants with half-a-dozen fronds lft. long- 

 receiving all their support from the parent frond. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 lit, p. 67. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, iv., t. 44. Eaton, Ferns of North 

 America, t. 61. Beddome, Ferns of British India, t. 88. 



