SELAGINELLAS. 



36q 



S. variabilis, is so called from the changes that take place in the colour of the leaves at different 

 times of the day, being sometimes rich green, and at others almost white. It is of a flattened 

 creeping habit and grows freely. S. umbrosa is often grown under the name of S. cassia, in 

 reference to the beautiful metallic blue tint of its foliage. Its slender stems trail to a length of from 

 i ft. to 2ft., and are furnished at intervals on either side with regularly shaped frond-like branches. 

 It is also very beautiful in a hanging basket. S. Wall ich i grows to a height of from 2ft. to 3ft., 

 its wide spreading branches being thickly clothed with large leaves of a dark shining green, quite 

 distinct from the others. It forms a handsome specimen. S. Wildenovi, frequently met with 

 under the name of S. cassia arborea, is a robust-growing climbing kind, its large flattened 

 branches, which are in some cases 2ft. long, having leaves coloured as in S. uncinata. 



The few that may be successfully grown in a greenhouse are herewith given ; at the 



THE GATEWAY, TISSINGTON HALL, DERBYSHIRE. 



same time, they will grow equally as well in the stove : S. apoda, S. inasqualifolia, S. involvens, 

 S. Kraussiana and its varieties, S. Martensi, and S. Poulteri. 



Selaginellas are not, except in a few instances, difficult to manage, as they creep 

 about in a free way, making quite a mossy covering to everything they cover with their 

 fresh green growths. The dwarf kinds represented by Selaginella Kraussiana are here 

 referred to. It must be remembered that some species are almost, if not quite, hardy, and 

 these are very useful for covering the soil in a hardy Fernery or rock garden where the 

 position is moist and not too exposed to the sun, otherwise the plants would be quickly burnt 

 up. S. Kraussiana is the most hardy of all, and will survive out of doors even near London. 

 A narrow border of this in a suburban garden, in which the plants used were Selaginellas and 

 the common fragrant Musk', formed in every way a happy companionship. If only one hind 



