364 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



their number decorative plants of much value. Manv of 

 them are extremely graceful, and, as they resist draughts 

 better than most, are popular for the dwelling-house. 

 Under such conditions many of them will keep in good 

 health for years. Some species when raised from spores 

 vary to an almost unlimited extent, hence distinct 

 varieties are common. In a good selection of Pteris the 

 following are all worthy of a place : P. arguta, a free, bold- 

 growing plant which has fronds Iyd. long, and borne on 

 bright reddish brown stalks. P. argyraea, somewhat after 

 the manner of the preceding, but more spreading, and each 

 leaflet has a broad stripe of white down the centre ; it is 

 one of the best of the variegated Kerns. P. biaurita, a 

 robust Pern, stiffer and more upright in growth than 

 either of the above. There is a variety marked with 

 white as in P. argyraea. P. cretica forms a handsome 

 tult of dark green fronds. It reaches a height of about 



very beautiful. It is sometimes called the Ribbon Fern, 

 from the general appearance of the leaflets. The varieties 

 are innumerable, among them being cristata, with beauti- 

 fully crested fronds ; compacta, a little dense plant ; major 

 forms a handsome specimen ; gracilis, with exceedingly 

 narrow divisions of the fronds ; Regina, variegated leaved ; 

 and Regina cristata, crested. P. tremula, a very popular 

 Fern, pushes up its bold fronds in a regular way from a 

 central crown. The fronds when fully developed are 3ft. 

 to 4ft. long and 2ft. broad. There are several varieties, 

 the most distinct being Smithiana, in which the fronds are 

 very densely crested. P. tricolor is one of the most 

 beautiful of variegated Ferns, but difficult to keep in good 

 condition. It is rather dwarf, with leaves usually about 

 1 ft. long. When young the fronds are of a rosy red tint, 

 but as they mature become marked with white, green, 

 and purplish red, an uncommon combination. P. umbrosa 



SUNSHINE AND SHADE, KELLY HOUSE, TAVISTOCK. 



I Sin. , and is much grown fur decorat : ons. There are 

 numerous varieties all ornamental, particularly albo- 

 lineata, variegated with white in the centre of each 

 leaflet ; major, larger and bolder than the ordinary 

 form; Mayi, like albo-lineata, but crested; nobilis, 

 a dense but more slender plant than the preceding. 

 P. incisa, also known as Litobrochia incisa, is a 

 plant of bold growth, w ith fron Is 3ft. or 4ft. Ion ;, 

 of a distinct bluish green colour. P. longifolia, 

 whose fronds are from I ft. to 2ft. long, of a spreading 

 habit and but once divided. The dark green leaflets are 

 from 3m. to 4in. long and not more than Jin. wide. 

 The variety Mariesi is more graceful than the type. 

 P. scaberula has fronds as finely divided as those of the 

 most delicate Da vallias. They are over 1 ft. long and 6in. 

 to 9m. broad. This Pteris produces a number of creeping 

 stems on which the fronds are borne. P. serrulala is the 

 commonest of all greenhouse Ferns, and at the same time 



is somewhat in the way of P. cretica, but larger and more 

 massive in all respects. P. Victoria? has narrow, prettily 

 variegated leaflets. P. Winsetti is very free in growth, 

 with fronds from I ft. to I Sin. long. It forms a compact 

 and graceful Fern. 

 Silver Fern. — See Gymnogramma peruviana argvro- 

 phylla. 



Stag'S-horn Fern. — See Platycerium. 



Todea. — A class of Ferns remarkable for their (with one 

 exception) finely cut and very delicate fronds. In 

 the texture of the frond and other particulars they 

 resemble the Filmy Ferns, and, like them, must be kept 

 in a close case in order to maintain a constantly humid 

 atmosphere. The exception just alluded to is T. barbara, 

 also known as T. africana. This forms a short but 

 massive trunk, from whence are produced large quantities 

 of fronds 3ft. to 4ft. long and I ft. broad. The leaflets 

 are quite leathery in texture, and of a bright shining green, 



