ADIANTUM. 



243 



of a climbing nature, attaining several feet in length, and provided on 

 their entire length with fronds tri- or cjuadri- pinnate : that is to say, either 

 three times or four times divided to the rachis or midrib. The best illus- 

 tration of this singular character is seen in the Mexican A. Feei. 



7. — Pedatum (Ped-a'-tum), or " Foot- shaped Group." The fronds of the 

 subjects belonging to this most distinct group are not pinnately branched, 

 but are dichotomously forked : that is to say, after being divided into two 

 parts these are repeatedly forked again ; they have numerous pinna? (leaflets) 

 springing from the upper side of the two branches. These characters 

 are best shown in the North American A. pedatum. 



8. — Hewaeuia (Hew-ar'-di-a). The species composing this group differ 

 from all other known Adiantums principally through their veins being anas- 

 tomosing (running into one another), a character which is well shown in 

 A. dolosum. 



It is in this extensive and very varied genus that most of the species of 

 Ferns best adapted for decoration are to be found. On account of the black, 

 shining stalks common to most of them, Adiantums are popularly known as 

 Maidenhair Ferns, an appellation which is also frequently shared by our native 

 Asplenium Trichomanes, whose stipes (stalks) are of a nature very similar to 

 that which, at first sight, distinguishes Adiantums from all other Ferns. 

 Some of them are of the greatest utility for making bouquets, wreaths, &c. : 

 foremost among these is A. cuneatum, by far the commonest of all kinds now 

 in cultivation, but which will not be easily superseded by any new-comer ; for, 

 besides the natural gracefulness common to the fronds of this species, it 

 has the immense advantage of producing them in greater abundance than 

 most of the other kinds at present known. For the same purpose also, 

 A. Ghiesbreghti (commonly designated A. scutum), A. mnulum, A. Wagneri 

 (better known as A. decorum), although not so much in demand, are very 

 useful. For large vases, where green and elegant foliage is often required for 

 intermixing with flowers of more than ordinary sizes, such as Gladioli, 

 Lilies, &c, what can be more appropriate, and produce better and more 

 pleasing effect, than the massive fronds of A. tenerum Farleyense (generally 

 known as A. Farleyense), the light- coloured and gigantic fronds of A. poly- 

 phyllum (popularly known as A. cardiocMcena), or the darker foliage of 

 A. formosum ? 



