334 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



A. Waltoni— Wal'-ton-i (Walton's), Moore. 



This is one of the several supposed hybrids of garden origin which 

 apparently owe their existence to the influence of A. cemulum. Its fronds, 

 produced from a close, tufted crown, and borne on black, shining stalks 

 6in. to 9in. long, are nearly lift, long, broadly ovate (egg-shaped), upright, 

 and quadripinnate (four times divided to the midrib). Their pinnae (leaflets 

 or first divisions) are equally ovate in form and occupy an ascending position * 

 the lower ones are borne on comparatively long, slender stalks, while the 

 upper ones have their pinnules (leafits) next to the rachis (stalk of the leafy 



Fig. 49. Acliantum Weiganclii 

 (l nat. size). 



portion of the frond) elongated and compound (lengthened and joined 

 together). The leafits, all attached to short, v,ery slender footstalks, are more 

 or less cuneiform (wedge-shaped), and the round and abundant sori (spore 

 masses) are disposed in a sinus (depression) of the marginal lobes, four to 

 six to a fertile pinnule. — Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 485. 



A. Weigandii — Wei-gand'-i-i (Weigand's). 



This very pretty, stove Fern, of particularly neat habit and pleasing 

 colour, originated in American gardens, whence it was brought to Europe 



