254 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



and prolonged through their peculiar habit of rooting at the extremity, are 

 from 4in. to Gin. long, and are borne on slender, filiform (thread-like) 

 stalks, of a polished and naked nature, and of a bright black colour. They 

 are furnished with pinna? (leaflets) Jin. to |-ija. broad and Jin. deep, of a 

 thin, papery texture, and varying in shape from a quarter to nearly half 

 a circle ; the pinna? are lobed from the circumference towards the centre 

 two or three times half the way down, and the main lobes are cleft again, 

 but less deeply. The sori (spore masses) in this species are roundish or 

 oblong, and disposed in small depressions at the summit of the lobes. — 

 Hooker, Species Filicum, ii., p. 15. 



A. Capillus-Junonis— Cap-il'-lus-Ju-no'-nis (Juno's hair), Pmprecht 



This greenhouse species, also known under the name of A. cantoniense 

 (can-ton-i-en'-se), it having been gathered by Hance on the ramparts of Canton, 

 belongs, like the preceding one, to the " Radicantes " Group. Its general aspect 

 is somewhat that of a diminutive form of the better-known A, lunulatum, for 

 its fronds, simply pinnate (only once divided to the midrib), seldom exceed 

 Sin. in length, including the slender, polished stalk, of a blackish colour, on 

 which they are borne. They are furnished with a terminal leaflet, which 

 equally possesses the peculiarity of rooting at its extremity, and three to five 

 pairs of opposite leaflets, about Jin. in breadth, sub-orbicular (nearly round), 

 very slightly lobed, borne on short stalks, and of a pellucid (transparent) 

 texture. The sori (spore masses) in this species are roundish or transversely 

 oblong, scantily produced, and disposed round the outer edge, where they are 

 not contiguous. — Hooker, Species Filicum, p. 114. 



A. Capillus- Veneris — Cap-il'-lus-Ven'-er-is (Venus's hair), Linnwus. 



This species, to which the popular appellation of Maidenhair, common to 

 all Adiantums, owes its origin, is, from a decorative point of view, the one 

 which undoubtedly renders the greatest services. As a wall or as a rock 

 plant it is invaluable, for the creeping rhizomes (prostrate stems) with which 

 it is provided — and which, according to the more or less favourable situa- 

 tions in which the plant is found, vary in thickness from that of a quill 

 pen to that of a man's finger — produce in great abundance a foliage noted for 

 its elegance and delicacy. The running rhizomes of this species, and of its 



