38 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



among a quantity of young A. cuneatum, which had been included in an order 

 for Ferns intended for filling small glass vases for a living-room, where, no 

 doubt, its doom was sealed, as nothing more was ever heard of it. This 

 occurrence is all the more to be regretted as the reproduction of the plant 

 would have been watched with the utmost interest. It is well known that 

 in really well -variegated Ferns the character referred to is, with scarcely any 

 exception, faithfully reproduced ; and it is important to note that amongst 

 exotic kinds the variegation, when fixed, is both constant and decorative. 



In 1882 we met, in Belgium, with a very singular form of Adiantum 

 formosum, whose fronds, about 2^ft. in height, and equal in vigour to those of 

 the typical species, were densely furnished with innumerable small pinnules of 

 a light green colour, but copiously dotted and splashed all over with pale 

 yellow. The most admired, however, among these variegated Maidenhairs, is 

 undoubtedly an extremely pretty form (striatum) of A. macrojjhyUum, which 

 seems to have made its appearance simultaneously in Eugland, in France, and 

 in Belgium, in 1883 — an occurrence which can scarcely be accounted for in 

 any ivay. In each case the variegated plant has preserved the erect, some- 

 what rigid habit of the typical species, and the fronds, rising from an 

 underground, creeping rhizome, attain from 1ft. to l|*ft, in height. Their 

 large and peculiarly-shaped pinna? are, like those of the type, of a delicate 

 pink or red colour when young ; but this ground-tint is very freely relieved 

 by yellow stripes, which, besides being the principal ornament of the partially- 

 developed fronds, remain perfectly distinct and prominent when the foliage has 

 assumed its permanent bright green colour. 



Interesting as the above-mentioned representatives of the genus Adiantum 

 may be, as illustrating the natural variation in the direction of variegated 

 Ferns, they are greatly surpassed in that way by the various kinds of Pteris, 

 forming part of a genus which undoubtedly is the richest among Ferns in 

 subjects partaking of that character. Of these, too, some of the East Indian 

 species require warm-house treatment, whereas others are perfectly satisfied 

 with a cool-house temperature. Among the latter, P. cretica albo-lineata 

 may reasonably claim to be the most distinct and useful of variegated Ferns, 

 and the appreciation of its decorative qualities is sufficiently shown by the 

 enormous quantities of it which, every year, and in all sizes, pass through 

 our London markets. The beauty of its variegation and the hardiness of the 



