554 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



and the other descending, thus giving the frond a singular cruciform appear- 

 ance. Near the top the pinna? merge into alternate (not opposite) pairs of 

 gradually diminishing, crowded, deeply-cut, and toothed divisions. The fronds 

 terminate in a narrow, normal, unbranched, truncate extremity. See Fig. 96. 

 —Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., p. 50, fig. 342. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 130. 



Fig, 96. Upper Portion of Frond of Asplenium Filix-fcemina Field iee, with Lower Portion 

 showing arrangement of Pinnae 

 (§ nat. size). 



This extraordinary form has, under cultivation, produced numerous sub- 

 varieties, the most distinct of which are the following : 



A. F.-f. F. compositum — com-pos'-it-um (compound or aggregate), Ivery. 



This is a strong- growing form, whose fronds frequently attain 3ft. in 

 length and 7in. in width at the base, contracting from 2in. from the middle 

 of the frond. Their pinna? (leaflets) are more or less horizontal on the lower 

 half of the frond. In the upper half they branch at the base in the way of 

 A. F.-f. Fieldice, but are more horizontal, crowded, and irregular in length. 

 The sori (spore masses) are large and abundant. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, 

 ii., p. 120, fig. 455. 



A. F.-f. F. c. multifldum— mul-tif-id -um (much-cleft), Ivery. 



A singular and pretty form, which differs from the preceding one mainly 

 in having the basal pinnae furcate and in having the apex of the frond 



