FERNS. 



317 



ASPIDITJM ACTTLEATFM. 



glossy green, finely-cut, firm-textured fronds, one to 

 two feet long, by nine to twelve inches broad. 



The variety coniifoUum has still more finely- 

 divided fronds, with copiously-toothed segments. 

 There is a variegated form of the type, which is 

 an interesting and pretty fern, a portion on each 

 side of the rachis being a greenish-yellow colour. 



A. aristatum extends from Japan to Ceylon, and 

 from Norfolk Island, Fiji, and Samoa to 

 New South Wales and Natal. 



A. auricidatum has somewhat leathery, 

 tufted fronds, twelve to eighteen inches 

 long, by two to four inches broad, the 

 numerous pointed falcate pinnse having 

 spinosely serrated edges. It is found in 

 Formosa, Ceylon, and throughout India, 

 where, in the Himalayas, it ascends to 

 9,000 feet above sea-level. 



A. Capense has scattered, firm, erect, 

 greyish stipes, densely scaly below, a foot 

 or two in length, and sub-deltoid, twice- 

 cut, very leathery fronds, one to three feet 

 long, by twelve to eighteen inches broad. 

 This is a noble fern, requiring plenty of 

 root-room, and also space overhead in 

 which to develop its handsome fronds. 

 It is widely distributed throughout the 

 southern parts of the Old World, and also 

 occurs in the W estern Hemisphere from 

 Cuba to Patagonia. 



A. falcatiim, frequently mentioned in 



books and horticultural journals under the name of 

 Cyrtommm falcatum, is a handsome and distinct fern, 

 with dark green, leathery, glossy, simply-pinnate, 

 evergreen fronds. The tufted stipes, densely clothed 

 below with large dark scales, are from six to twelve 

 inches in length, and the fronds from one to two 

 feet long, by six to nine inches broad. 



The Himalayan var. caryotideum has rather larger, 

 sharplyi-toothed, slightly-lobed, opaque pinnae ; and 

 var. Fortunei, introduced many years ago from Japan 

 by Fortune, is hke A. falcatiim, except in the nar- 

 rower dull green (opaque) pinnae. In many places 

 in this country these are hardy, and form wonderfully 

 attractive objects in the out-door fernery, where their 

 somewhat massive fronds contrast so markedly with 

 the more finely- cut and delicate ferns. In one or 

 other of its forms A. falcatum is found from Japan 

 and China to the Sandwich Islands, ]\Iadagascar, 

 and South Africa. 



A. frondosum, from Madeira, has scattered, strong, 

 straw-coloured or pale brown polished stipes, one to 

 two feet long, and firm-textured, sub-deltoid, naked 

 fronds, a foot and a half to two feet long, by a foot 

 or more broad. 



AJaserpitiifoImm,t'h.eLastrea Standishiioi gardens, 

 has finely-cut, light green, firm fronds. It differs 

 from A. amabile, which it somewhat resembles, in 

 being more compound, with smaller cuneate, oblong, 

 less-toothed segments, and larger sori. In many 

 places in this country this pretty Japanese fern is 

 quite hardy. 



A. lcpidocaulon. — This has the habit and texture of 

 A. falcatum. It has drooping dark green fronds, 



ASPIDITJM ANGTTLARE GPANDICEPS. 



