ACROSTICHUM. 



181 



Soromanes (So-rom'-an-es), Fee. — Ferns with veins pinnate, a few ol 

 those of contiguous groups usually joining. 



Stenochl^ena (Sten-och-ke'-na), J. Smith. — Ferns with fronds simply 

 pinnate, and somewhat resembling those of Lomaria (Lo-ma'-ri-a) as regards 

 their shape, their texture, and their fine, close venation. 



The name Acrostichum, from akros, outermost, and stichos, row (i.e., 

 beginning of a verse), refers to the disposition of the sori, which have been 

 thought to resemble the beginning of lines of verse. 



Culture. 



The genus is exceedingly rich in plants of decorative value, some of 

 the strongest-growing kinds being particularly adapted for covering trunks 

 of Tree Ferns, walls, columns, &c, which they ascend by means of the 

 extension of their rhizomes (prostrate or subterranean stems, emitting leaves 

 at the growing point and rootlets along the surface), and in which situation 

 they produce a very striking effect, hiding as they do unsightly supports or 

 other equally objectionable subjects. The species with long fronds are parti- 

 cularly valuable for growing in hanging baskets ; while, for most of the 

 species with entire or simple fronds, pot-culture must necessarily be resorted 

 to. In whatever way they are grown, Acrostichums require a liberal supply 

 of water at the roots ; consequently, the compost used must be of a very 

 porous nature. A mixture of two parts fibrous peat, one part chopped 

 sphagnum, and one part coarse silver sand, will be found to suit nearly all 

 known species. Although over one hundred species of Acrostichums are 

 enumerated in the " Synopsis Filicum," it has been thought necessary to 

 make a judicious selection, and, accordingly, only the most striking forms 

 have been fully described here ; names of those possessed of mere botanical 

 interest have been inserted in their alphabetical order, to record their existence, 

 but without lengthy comments. 



Principal Species and Varieties. 



A. accedens — ac-ce'-dens (approaching), Mettenius. 



A species of botanical interest, native of the Andes of Bolivia. — Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 523. 



