412 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



S. apus — a'-pus (footless), Spring. 



This greenhouse species, more extensively known in gardens under the 

 names of S. apoda and S. densa, is a native of Canada and the United States 

 of America, where it occurs as far as Texas, and is interesting geographically 

 as a representative in the temperate zone of a characteristically tropical group. 

 Its slender, trailing, densely -matted stems, lin. to 4in. long, are either simple 

 or forked. The leaves of the lower plane are spaced below the tips of the 

 branches, egg-shaped or unequal-sided ; those of the upper plane are shortly 

 pointed. The fruiting spikes, Jin. to Jin. long, are usually erect. This is 

 one of the most useful species for pot culture and for edging. S. a. denticulata 

 is synonymous with S. ludoviciana.— Baker, Handbook of the Fern-Allies, 

 p. 71. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, hi. p. 409. 



S. argentea — ar-gen'-te-a (silvery). A variety of S. caulescens. 



S. atrOYiridis — a'-tro-vir'-id-is (dark green), Spring. 



This strong-growing, stove species is one of the most distinct in cultivation • 

 its peculiar, metallic, dark green colour and its upright habit render it quite 

 different from any other species in cultivation. It is a native of Madras, 

 Malaysia, South China, Hong-Kong, and Formosa. The stems, 1ft. long, 

 are flat on the back, have the root-fibres confined to their lower part, and are 

 repeatedly branched. The leaves of the lower plane, closely disposed on both 

 stem and branches, are rather firm in texture, unequal- sided, broadly rounded, 

 more or less distinctly ciliated, and overlap the stem on the upper side at the 

 base ; the leaves of the upper plane are half as long, oblong, with a sharp 

 point, and much overlap. The fruiting spikes, which are square, are generally 

 from iin, to lin. long. —Baker, Handbook of the Fern- Allies, p. 77. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, hi., p. 409. 



S. azorica — az-or'-ic-a (from the Azores), Baker. 



A small, greenhouse species, of little decorative value, native of the 

 mountains of the Azores. — Baker, Handbook of the Fern-Allies, p. 50. 



S. Bakeriana — Ba-ker-i-a'-na (Baker's), Bailey. 



A very pretty, widely- trailing, greenhouse species, native of Queensland, 

 and much in the way of S. uncinata. The bright green leaves are moderately 



