450 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



frequent syringings are also beneficial, but they should be watered sparingly 

 during the winter, when the foliage should also be kept dry. It must also 

 be borne in mind that, although subject to thrips, Cyrtomiums will not get 

 infested with them when not grown in heat. All are readily propagated from 

 spores, which are produced abundantly and germinate very freely. 



Although all known forms of Cyrtomium falcatum are, in commerce, 

 considered as so many species, they are simply varieties of A. falcatum, a 

 species with a very wide range of habitat, being known as a native of Japan, 

 China, the Himalayas, Neilgherries, &c. Its handsome fronds, ljft. to 2jft. 

 long and 6in. to 9in. broad, are borne on stout stalks 6in. to lOin. long, 

 and densely clothed, especially at the base, with large scales of a light 

 brown colour. They are produced from a very stout crown of a particularly 

 scaly nature, and are spear-shaped, simply pinnate (once divided to the 

 midrib), and of a shining dark green colour, approaching that of the 

 Portugal Laurel, but paler underneath. The numerous pinna? (leaflets) are 

 stalked at the base of the frond, but sessile (stalkless) in its upper half 

 (Fig. 66) ; they are sickle-shaped, 4in. to 6in. long, lin. to 2in. broad, some- 

 times auricled (eared), the lower side rounded or obliquely truncate at the 

 base. The sori (spore masses) are bold and pretty, being thickly scattered 

 over the whole under-surface of the frond. Although generally considered 

 as a greenhouse Fern, this species has proved perfectly hardy and stood 

 several consecutive winters out of doors, in various parts of England, 

 Ireland, and Wales, without artificial protection, and yet remained uninjured. 

 In these cases, however, it became deciduous, the fronds being annually cut 

 off by the frost ; but the vigour of the plants did not suffer through this 

 loss of foliage, which corresponds with a similar treatment natural to our 

 common Prickly Shield Fern. — Hooker, Species Filicum, iv., p. 40. Nicholson, 

 Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 126. Lowe, Ferns British and Exotic, 

 vi., t. 9. 



A. f. caryotideum — car-y-o-tid'-e-um (Caryota-like), Wallich. 



This variety, of Japanese origin, which, in commerce, is erroneously 

 known as Cyrtomium Fortunei, is totally distinct from the species in its 

 drooping habit and also in the colour and shape of its fronds, which, instead 

 of being dark green, are of a most conspicuous light' green tint. They 



