ADIANTUM. 



255 



varieties, are easily distinguishable from all others, not only by the scales, of 

 a dark brown colour, with which they are densely clothed, but also through 

 the property which they possess of firmly attaching themselves to any material 

 with which they are brought into contact. This adhesive character, peculiar 

 to members belonging to this group of Adiantums, is, in the case of A. 

 Capillus- Veneris and varieties, developed to such an extent that it may be 

 safely stated that the presence of soil in their culture is only a matter of 

 secondary importance ; for, if young seedlings originate on a perfectly bare 

 brick wall, or on rockwork, there is not the slightest difficulty in establishing 

 them in such a situation, and, provided a constantly moist atmosphere and 

 a temperature of 50deg. to 55deg. can be depended upon, they soon form 

 a complete mass of foliage, springing from their matted rhizomes, Avhich have 

 no other food than the moisture they derive from the walls. 



The geographical range of this lovely species is very extensive — it may, 

 in fact, be said to be world-wide in its distribution, for it is found in a wild 

 state throughout Central and Southern Europe, from the Jura and Tyrol 

 Mountains, to Sicily, Portugal, and Greece, where it is found in profusion, 

 adorning the brooks and rivulets, with its elegant fronds often attaining a 

 height of ljft. ; in Asia, plentiful on the Caucasus and in South-east China 

 and Japan, in Persia, in Syria, and in the Polynesian Islands ; in Africa, Cape 

 of Good Hope, Abyssinia, Natal, in the Niger Valley, and in the Mascarene 

 Islands ; while among the many Indian and other localities described by 

 Dr. Hooker the following are the most important : Malabar, Nepal, Simla, 

 Bhotan, Assam, Sikkim-Himalaya — where it is found up to 6000ft. elevation — 

 Cashmere, Thibet, and Afghanistan. It is also abundant in some parts of 

 North America, where, according to Eaton, it grows in moist, rocky places, 

 especially about springs and along water-courses, from Wilmington, North 

 Carolina, to Florida, Alabama, Texas, Utah, Arizona, Venezuela, and the Amazon 

 Valley. The islands of the Mediterranean, TenerifFe, Madeira, Canaries, Azores, 

 and Cape de Verde, also produce it in great quantities. 



Tourists and Fern hawkers have, by their depredations, greatly reduced 

 the number of places where the Maidenhair grows, or rather grew, in England ; 

 but it is comforting to know that the plant is still found at Carclew, St. Ives, 

 and Hayle, in Cornwall ; at Ilfracombe, Rillidge Point, Watermouth, and 

 Brixham, in Devonshire ; at Dunraven and Barry Island, in Glamorganshire ; 



