224 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



very well in the intermediate house, where the winter temperature occa- 

 sionally falls below 50deg. Fahrenheit. It is a somewhat coarse feeder as 

 well as a vigorous grower, and prefers a compost of an open nature made 

 of fibrous loam, fibrous peat, partly-decayed leaf-mould, and silver sand, in 

 equal parts, with abundance of water at the roots all the year round. 



A. Schlimense — Schlim-en'-se (Schlim's), Fee. 



A stove species, of small dimensions and of little decorative value, some- 

 what resembling A. flaccidum in texture, though distinctly stalked. It was 

 discovered in New Granada by Schlim, and later on by Spruce, in Ecuador. — 



Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 402. 



A. Schmitzii — Schmitz'-i-i (Schmitz's), Mettenius. 



A greenhouse species, of small dimensions and of purely botanical interest, 

 native of Mexico. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 523. 



A. SCOlopendrifolium — scol-op-en-drif-oF-I-um (Scolopendrium-leaved), 

 Raddi. 



This stove, Brazilian species is one of the most decorative of all the 

 cultivated forms with simple (undivided) fronds comprised in the genus, for 

 its singular barren fronds, often more than 1ft. in length and from 2in. to 

 3in. in breadth, are produced in great abundance from a very short-creeping 

 or short-trailing rhizome (prostrate stem), which is densely covered with 

 long and very narrow scales of a dark chestnut-brown colour. These fronds, 

 of a coriaceous (leathery) texture, are of a pale green colour, and their 

 stipes (stalks), from Sin. to 12in. long, their rachis (midrib), and their 

 margin are densely covered with long, cordate (heart-shaped) scales of a brown 

 colour. Contrary to the barren fronds, which are of a pendulous habit, the 

 fertile ones, much smaller and more sparingly produced, are erect in habit 

 and articulated (jointed) near the base of the stalks. The general aspect 

 of the plant is that of a gigantic Scolopendrium of woolly or downy appear- 

 ance. — Hooker, Species Filicum, v., p. 211. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 L, p. 20. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, vii., t. 45. 



This plant does not like to be disturbed at the roots, and thrives best 

 when pot-bound, provided the watering is done carefully. 



