86 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



No species surpasses in power of attraction the very singular Ccratopteris 

 thalictroides (commonly known as the Floating Stag's -horn Fern). It is 

 essentially an aquatic, but requires stove heat, and may be propagated either 

 from spores, which germinate freely, or from the proliferous buds with which 

 its barren fronds are amply provided. These sterile fronds are about ljft. 

 long, and prostrate ; whereas the fertile ones are decompound, erect, and 

 from 2ft. to 3ft. in height, and their segments are forked and linear. 



To the above may also be added two varieties of Scolopendrium vulgare, 

 individually named densum and proliferum, in which the leafy portion of 

 the fronds is thickly studded with little plantules, as in Asplenium bidbiferum 

 and Neiplwodium prolificum. 



Group II. 



The second group — that in which the proliferous character, instead of 

 belonging to the leafy portion of the frond, extends only to its stalk or 

 rachis — though not so extensive as the one just treated, comprises plants 

 belonging to several distinct genera. We find, among the gigantic -growing 

 kinds, the deservedly-popular Woodwardia radicans, native of St. Michael 

 and the Azores, bearing several adventitious buds on its stalks or rachides, 

 and there only. This species, unsurpassed as a basket Fern for a cool-house, 

 has of late years become perfectly acclimatised in some parts of England, 

 especially in Cornwall, where it has been planted in an outdoor Fernery, and 

 under the shelter of the trees, and where it is thriving uncommonly well. 

 Several very striking forms of this handsome Fern, all of which to a great 

 extent share the proliferous characters of the species, are known to be in 

 cultivation, and all have, we believe, been introduced equally from St. Michael 

 and the Azores by Messrs. Stansfield, of Todmorden, who for years past have 

 made Ferns a specialty. The most striking of these, W. r. cristata (or 

 Browni, as it is frequently called), has long, arching fronds furnished with 

 pinnae and pinnules extensively subdivided, and terminating on each side of 

 the fronds with tufted crests, smaller than the terminal ones, which frequently 

 measure from Gin. to Sin. in width. W. r. Burgesiana is a most interesting and 

 distinct form, with pinna and pinnules uniformly depauperated and serrated 

 throughout ; while W. r. crispa, which in a young state is scarcely pinuatifid, 



