2(3 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



erect, stiff, and of a much harder texture than those of any other kind 

 belonging to the same genus ; on that account they are most useful for 

 bouquets and buttonholes, as well as for table decoration. A. Victoria? is 

 another dwarf-growing kind, which originated among seedlings raised from 

 stronger-growing species that had already been a long time in cultivation. 

 Its fronds, which are short and numerous, bear pinna? as large as those of 

 the better-known and general favourite A. tenerum Farley ense ; they are of a 

 most pleasing light green colour, and when mature contrast beautifully with 

 the ever-coming and partly-developed ones, which are of a light claret tint, 

 gradually gaining a yellowish tinge previous to assuming their permanent 

 light green colour. A. Luddemannianum and A. Legrandi are also variations 

 from A. cuneatum, seldom attaining more than oin. or 6in. Both are of very 

 compact habit, and the latter appears to be a contracted form of the well- 

 known A. c. gracillimum, from which it differs in having its fronds much 

 shorter and more compact, though quite as finely developed. While in a 

 young state, and during their partial development, these fronds are of a 

 lovely red colour, and the plant has the appearance of being thickly studded 

 all over with innumerable little beads of various tints of pink and red. 



Although the majority of the dwarf-growing Ferns may be said to be of 

 exotic origin, some of the prettiest and most interesting species amongst them 

 are indigenous to this country. These, with but very few exceptions, belong 

 to the genera Asplenium, Cystopteris, and Woodsia. It is remarkable that 

 amongst the Aspleniuins, most of, if not all, the dwarf-growing kinds, such 

 as A. Ceterach, A. fontanum, A. germanicum, A. lanceolatum, A. Ruta- 

 muraria, A. Trichomanes, and A. viride, appear to have a predilection for 

 growing on old walls. According to Col. Beddome, who has made the 

 Indian Ferns a special study, and who has published an excellent and most 

 elaborate work on these plants, divided into " Ferns of British India " and 

 " Ferns of Southern India," most of the above-named species are also found 

 very extensively in many parts of India, and growing in positions exactly 

 similar to those which they prefer here. The Cystopteris and the Woodsias, 

 either of British or of North American origin, also form a considerable 

 addition to the list of dwarf-growing Ferns ; but, although the above-named 

 genera and the genus Doodia contain some of the prettiest among the 

 many choice Ferns of small dimensions, the great bulk of species proper 



