FERNS— HARDY 



AND EXOTIC. 



35 1 



regular-shaped plant with fronds about 2ft. long — a 

 useful decorative Fern ; L. Richardsi multifidum, fronds 

 2ft. in length and gin. in width, all the divisions being 

 tasselled at the tips ; it forms a charming specimen. 



LeilCOSteg'ia. — Nearly related to the Davallias ; indeed, 

 L. immersa bears much resemblance to Davallia Mooreana, 

 but instead of being evergreen it is quite deciduous. 



Lomaria. -A numerous class, found throughout the 

 greater part of the globe, one species, L. spicant, being 

 a native of this country. Most of them have fronds but 

 once divided, and several form quite an erect firm stem. 

 The best are : L. aspera, a dwarf spreading plant with 

 fronds about 6in. long ; L. Boryana, long arching 

 pinnate and leathery fronds, borne on a stout stem 2ft. 

 high ; it is almost like a Cycas, indeed a variety is 

 known as L. zamirefolia ; L. ciliata has a slender trunk 

 bin. high, crowned by a profusion of bright green fronds, 

 all the divisions of which are fringed at the edges ; 

 L. discolor bipinnatifida is one of the most handsome of all 

 the Lomarias, forming a mass of bonds jit. or 4I1. high. 

 The leaflets overlap one another, and are beautifully 

 toothed and crisped. The colour, too, is of a particu- 

 larly bright green. L. gibba is one of the most popular 

 Ferns, forming a handsome vase-shaped specimen. 



LygodJum. — Very distinct Ferns, with long slender 

 twining (not creeping) shoots, which are mostly furnished 

 with ample blight green leafage. L. dichotomum, 

 L. japonicum, L. pahnatum, and L. scandens are all good. 

 L. scandens is very popular. 



Maidenhair Fern. — See Adiantum. 



Marattia. — Large robust Ferns, having wide-spreading 

 fronds pushed up from thick massive crowns. The fronds 

 are of considerable substance, and very distinct. The 

 plants are semi-aquatic, hence they need copious supplies 

 of water. The best known are M. alata, M. Cooperi, 

 and M. fraxinea. 



Mierolepia hirta eristata is a strong, soft-growing 



Fern of easy culture, with prettily divided fronds, which 

 are densely crested at the tips. It is a favourite kind for 



growing into specimens, as plants 6ft. through can be 

 quickly obtained. 



Nephrodilim. -Nearly related to Lastrea, and the members 

 of this group form for the most part plants of even growth, 

 whilst they are very easily grown. N. Leu/.eanum 

 has large fronds, sometimes 6ft. long, and forms a bold- 

 looking subject. By far the best known member of 

 the group is N. molle, which is found wild throughout 

 the greater part of the globe. Crested forms are very 

 numerous in the case of this Fern, and in some this 

 duplication occurs excessively. 



Nephrolepis. -A beautiful class of Ferns, many of which 

 have long narrow fronds, in most instances only 

 once divided. In some cases they are quite pectinate 

 or comb-shaped. For planting on rockwork they 

 are unsurpassed, while being naturally of an elegant 

 drooping character they are well adapted for growing in 

 suspended baskets. They also succeed perfectly in pots, 

 in a mixture of peat, loam, and sand, and, while most of 

 them need stove temperature, a few may be grown in the 

 greenhouse. The best are : N. acuta, with comb-shaped 

 fronds 3ft. to 4ft. in length ; N. Bausei, an upright plant 

 from lit. to I Sin. high, and with deeply cut leaflets 

 totally unlike any of the others ; N. cordata compacta, 

 very prolific in the production of its charming arched 

 fronds ; N. davallioides, with particularly massive fronds 

 iyd. long ; N. davallioides furcans, prettily crested ; 

 N. Duffi, the slender fronds of which are divided and sub- 

 divided in a striking manner ; N. exaltata, a comb- 

 shaped kind, with very pointed leaflets, one of the most 

 useful and popular of all ; N. philippinensis, the smallest 

 of all, forms a dense tuft of upright fronds about I ft. high, 

 and is popular for growing in small pots ; N. rufescens 

 tripinnatifida, with broad massive leaflets deeply cut and 

 slashed, thus forming a handsome specimen Iyd. or so 

 high. The above are evergreen, except N. Bausei, which 

 is totally deciduous, and produces small brownish tubers 

 that must be kept moderately moist during the winter, 

 otherwise they will perish. 



WOODLAND FERNS : 



