THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



on each side of the midrib with from twenty-four to thirty pinna? (leaflets), 

 the uppermost of which become gradually smaller (Fig. 57), the frond 

 ending in a short, serrated point. The largest of the barren pinna? are 2in. 

 to 3in. long, iin. broad in the middle, oblong or oblong-spear-shaped from 

 a very unequal base, being suddenly narrowed to a short stalk on the lower 

 side of the base, but furnished on their upper side with a well-developed, 

 triangular, bristle-tipped ear ; their margin is finely serrulate (dented) with 

 incurved, bristle-tipped teeth. They are of a sub-coriaceous (almost leathery) 

 texture, of a deep green colour, very smooth and shining on their upper 

 surface, while their under-part is somewhat paler and minutely chaffy. In 

 the fertile fronds, which are usually taller, or at least more erect, than the 

 sterile ones, the upper third part is suddenly contracted, so that the lowest 

 fertile leaflet is not more than two -thirds as long or as broad as the barren 

 one next below it. The sori (spore masses), which are covered by an 

 indusium of orbicular form and . attached at the centre, occupy the 

 whole under-side of the fertile pinnae. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 9. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 125. Eaton, Ferns of North 

 America, i., t. 34. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, vL, t. 19. 



Though perfectly hardy in most parts of this country, this highly 

 decorative Fern proves most useful when grown all the year round in either 

 the cold house or the conservatory, where its handsome fronds last much 

 longer than outside : these, being of good substance, are very useful for 

 cutting, and are admirably adapted for mixing with flowers. It is a species 

 which thrives best in sandy peat and leaf-mould, with an abundance of water 

 at the roots all the year round. 



A. acrostichoicles has produced several distinct varieties, such as : 



A. a. grandiceps — gran'-dic-eps (large -crested), Moore. 



This very handsome variety, of garden origin, is the only crested 

 North American Fern with which we are at present acquainted. It is smaller 

 and altogether more compact in habit than the type, from which it also differs 

 by the large crests formed at the end of the fronds, and the crests of 

 smaller dimensions with which their pinnae (leaflets) are also ornamented. 

 Like the species, it is equally desirable for the hardy Fernery or for the 

 conservatory. — Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 126. 



