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THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



Among the large-growing kinds, and next to the popular Blechnum 

 braziliense, Didymochlcena lunulata (truncatula) occupies a most prominent 

 position, as its very handsome and regular habit, the beautiful bronzy tint of 

 its young foliage, and the dark shining green colour of the older fronds, have 

 made it a general favourite wherever it has been introduced. This applies 

 with equal force to the magnificent Davallia divaricata (polyantha), a species 

 producing immense fronds of a particularly graceful arching character and 

 coriaceous nature, which, before they assume the dark, glossy green colour 

 peculiar to them, pass through a whole series of tints and shades, varying 

 from deep purple to bright magenta, then to light bronze. All these trans- 

 formations take place in the course of a few clays ; and the plant being 

 evergreen, and growing all the year round, some of these richly-coloured 

 fronds are found on it at almost any time of the year. 



We have a little group composed of several strong-growing Japanese 

 Nephrodiums, whose foliage bears lovely metallic tints : N. erythrosorum, of 

 large and handsome proportions, producing in great abundance its highly 

 decorative fronds, which are rendered exceedingly interesting by the sori being 

 large, and the indusium which covers them being of a bright, light red 

 colour, contrasting most pleasantly with the dark glossy green hue of the 

 upper surface of the mature frond and the light pinkish colour of the partly- 

 developed ones ; N. opacum, whose fronds, of a particularly leathery nature, 

 possess very lasting properties ; and the charming N. prolificum, having all 

 the appearance of a finely- cut form of N. erythrosorum as regards mode of 

 growth and the glorious tints of its elegant fronds, which are, besides, very 

 singular, as when mature they are covered with young plants produced as 

 plentifully as on the well-known Asplenium bulbiferum. Aspidium (Nephro- 

 dium) varium, a species seldom seen in cultivation, is remarkable for the rich, 

 glowing, velvety-metallic colour of its young fronds, which later on assume a 

 splendid dark green tint. To the above-enumerated species we must add, 

 though representing different tints, it is true, but quite as attractive in their 

 way, the popular and vigorous Polypodium aureum, and the scarcer and still 

 more distinct P. a. areolatum (sporadocarpum) : both are strong growers, and 

 produce a charming effect in the Fernery, where the bold and massive foliage 

 of the former, of quite a bluish tint, forms a singular contrast with the colour 

 of other Ferns around it. The latter, although of a somewhat more rigid 



