564 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



the cruciate (cross-like) character of its leaflets, but is totally distinct from 

 that variety in the shape of its fronds, which, instead of being conspicuously 

 truncate, form gracefully -curved lines as they taper gradually towards the 

 extremity. These fronds attain a length of over 3ft., though little more than 

 lin. broad, and the habit of the plant is vigorous. The leaflets are cross- 

 shaped and, for at least three-fourths of the length of the fronds, present the 

 appearance of being knotted into small bows about £in. in width. — Lowe, 

 Our Native Ferns, ii., p. 114, fig. 448. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 L, p. 130. 



There is a sub-variety named cristatum, which is finely crested at the 

 extremities of the leaflets and bears a heavy, spreading crest at the summit 

 of the fronds : it is very striking. 



A. F.-f. ramosum — ra-mo'-sum (branched), Wollaston. 



A very pretty variety, of small dimensions, its erect fronds seldom 

 exceeding 9in. in length ; their lower portion is furnished with small, irregular 

 leaflets, sharply cut into finely -toothed leafits, each of them bearing at the 

 end a small crest, which, unlike the terminal one, is not branched. The 

 upper part of the frond is divided into two main branches, which are variously 

 forked, and these sub-divisions are again multifid (much-cleft) and sharply 

 toothed all round then edges. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., p. 86, fig. 401. 

 Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 130. 



A. F.-f. SCOpae — sco'-pse (broom-like), Lowe. 



This very handsome form was raised from spores of A. F.-f. grandiceps, 

 to which it bears a slight resemblance, though quite distinct from that and 

 indeed from any other crested variety. Its fronds, seldom more than lOin. 

 long, are composed of a rachis (stalk) that is all but naked, for there are but 

 a few scattered, irregular leaflets disposed from the base to the lower branching 

 part of the frond ; in some cases these leaflets are almost obsolete, whereas in 

 others they are about lin. long, with oblong, dentate pinnules (toothed leafits) 

 and a heavy terminal crest. The upper portion of the frond is made up of 

 repeated ramifications heavily crested, the whole forming a close, compact head 

 about 4in. in diameter with a cuneate (wedge-shaped) base. The habit of 

 the plant is almost perpendicular. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., p. 132, 

 fig. 473. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 130. 



