ADIANTUM. 



259 



known forms of our native Maidenhair Fern. Its erect fronds are narrow, 

 about 1ft. long ; their pinnules (leafits) are much cut, and in some cases 

 reduced to mere thread-like segments. — Lowe, Native Ferns, ii., p. 421, fig. 836. 



A. C.-Y. digitatum — dig-it-a'-tum (finger -like), Moore. 



A curious variety, of dwarf habit and evergreen nature, whose fronds, 

 instead of being symmetrical, as is usually the case, have a tendency to become 

 unequally ovate (much broader at the base than at the summit). These are 

 furnished with unequal and irregular leaflets, the most perfect of which are 

 rhomboid in form (with four sides equal, though not forming a square), 

 rounded at their upper margin, with lobes deeply incised and slightly 

 dented at the edges. This is a constantly barren form. — Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, iv., p. 484. 



A. C.-Y. fissum — fis'-sum (divided), Moore. 



A very elegant form, of dwarf habit, having erect fronds furnished with 

 pinnules (leafits) rather broader than those of the type, but deeply cut into 

 segments of various sizes and forms, which give the plant an appearance 

 distinct from all other known varieties. It is a most pleasing Fern for the 

 conservatory, as not only is it neat in habit, but the pinnules are of a bright 

 green colour, and they last a very long time on the plant. — Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, L, p. 25. 



A. C.-Y. Footi— Foot'-i (Foot's), Lowe. 



A very handsome variety, having fronds ljft. to 2ft. long, furnished with 

 broad pinnules (leafits), some of which are as much as lin. wide. Found at 

 Ballyryan, county Clare, by Mr. J. F. Foot. — Lowe, Native Ferns, ii., fig. 835. 



A. C.-Y. grande — gran'-de (large), Moore. 



In this variety, which is much more bushy in habit than the type, 

 although the foliage is quite as long, the fronds have a plumose (feathery) 

 appearance, produced by the much larger size of their pinnules (leafits), 

 which are undulated and conspicuously serrated (like a saw) at their edges ; 

 they are of a very light green colour, and gracefully pendulous. — Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 484. 



