264 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



described principally in the glabrous (smooth) nature of both surfaces of its 

 pinnae (leaflets). Its fronds are also slenderer, shorter, and produced in greater 

 abundance, while the colour of their leaflets is also different and much more 



pleasing, being of a bright, 

 soft bluish green. See Fig. 34 

 (for which we are indebted 

 to Messrs. W. and J. Birken- 

 head). — Hooker, Species Fili- 

 cum, ii., p. 14, t. 81b. Bed- 

 dome, Ferns of British India, 

 t. 17. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, i., p. 26. 



A. chilense — chil-en'-se 

 (native of Chili). A 

 variety of J., cethiopicum. 



A. Collisii — Col-hY-i-i 



(Collis'), Moore. 

 This highly-decorative, 

 home-raised, stove Maiden- 

 Fig. 34. Adiantum caudatum Edgeworthii hair, of fine proportions 



•* nat ' SIze) ' and graceful habit, was, 



when first described, given 

 as a hybrid between A. tenerum and A. gracillimum, a theory which may be 

 strengthened by the general appearance of the plant ; for its massive fronds, 

 which, like those of the first-named species, are triangular and from l^ft. to 2ft. 

 across, are also produced from a slowly-creeping rhizome (prostrate stem), but 

 more numerous, somewhat taller, and much more branched, giving the plant 

 a far more elegant contour ; they are borne on black, shining, slender stipes 

 (stalks) 1ft. to ljft. long, whence they become much branched and spread 

 on all sides ; whereas the numerous pinnules (leafits) with which they are 

 furnished, besides being small, are also wedge-shaped and slightly toothed 

 on the outer and the upper margins. The sori (spore masses), produced 

 sparingly, are disposed one on each depression of the upper margin. — 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 484. 



