ADIANTUM. 



287 



A. formosum — for-mo'-sum (beautiful), 11. Brown. 



This very handsome, strong-growing, greenhouse species, which under 

 proper cultivation attains very large dimensions, is one of the most ornamental 

 Ferns in existence, and is on that account grown in immense quantities. It 

 is a native of Australia, being very common in the neighbourhood of Port 

 Jackson, but is never found wild elsewhere, with the solitary exception of 

 Mangatainoka, New Zealand, where it was discovered by Mr. Colenso. Its 



Fig. 41. Acliantum formosum 

 (much reduced). 



fronds, which are produced abundantly from slender, underground, creeping 

 rhi zomes (prostrate stems), are branching and quadripinnate (four times 

 divided to the midrib). They are erect or nearly so, and from lift, to 3ft. 

 in height, one-half of which, the stipes (stalk), is naked. The foliaged 

 part, triangular in outline, is copiously furnished with small pinnules (leafits), 

 whose lower edge is straight, whereas the upper and outer are rather rounded 

 and deeply lobed, the lower ones being distinctly stalked (Fig. 41). These 



