ADIANTUM. 



335 



under the stated name, but without any authority for it. Mr. Moore, 

 however, retained the name, and published an extensive description, from 

 which the following are the most important passages : " We regard this as 

 a very distinct plant, one of pleasing character likely to be used for decorative 

 purposes. The fronds have about the same size and outline of the useful 

 A. decorum, and the habit is similar, but the pinnules are quite different. 

 These organs have a peculiar aspect, being very freely and conspicuously 

 lobate at the edge, and yet appearing to be but little divided, on account of 

 the very narrow sinuses (depressions) between the lobes. The lobes are 

 large and few, and in consequence the pinnules in some instances have very 

 much the cutting to be observed in the leaves of the Hawthorn. The apical 

 portions of the fronds and of the pinnae (leaflets) are crowded." To the 

 foregoing description we may add that the fronds, triangular in shape and 

 tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib), are about 1ft. long, and being 

 produced from a close crown they form a neat tufted mass of foliage 

 (Fig. 49) ; also that the numerous large, nearly circular sori (spore masses) 

 are disposed one or two on each lobe, at the tip of which they are situated. 

 — Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, iv., p. 486. 



A. Wilesianum — Wiles -i-a'-num (Wiles'). Synonymous with A. crenatum. 



A. Williamsii — Will-iams'-i-i (Williams'), Moore. 



One of the most beautiful of all known Maidenhair Ferns, and one which 

 thrives well under cool treatment, as it is a native of the mountains of Peru, 

 where it is found at a great elevation. It may possibly be a form of the 

 very variable A. cethiopicum, and has somewhat the general aspect of 

 A. 03. chilense, although its growth is not so dense : it is also of a free and 

 more vigorous constitution. The beautiful fronds, which are borne on slender, 

 black stipes (stalks) Gin. to 12in. long, are tripinnate (three times divided 

 to the midrib), triangular in shape, and elegantly arched. The pinnas 

 (leaflets) are set a little distance apart, and the pinnules (leafits), nearly 

 circular in shape, have their margin entire, slightly undulated, or divided 

 into three or four lobes notched between the sori (spore masses), the sterile 

 or barren portions with an erose (gnawed), diaphanous (transparent) margin. 

 These pinnules, about Jin. broad, are attached to the rachis (stalk of 

 the leafy portion of the frond) by very slender footstalks about ^in. long, so 



