530 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



fronds which appear like Oak-leaves attached to the upper part 

 of the stem. The colour is light green. The fertile fronds are 

 quite distinct, being simply a stem bearing on the upper 2 inches 

 clusters of hard round spore-cases. It is a rapid grower, its 

 rhizomes spreading quickly, and soon producing a dense clump 

 of foliage. It requires shade from the sun and shelter from the 

 wind, or its foliage is soon injured, being, as its name implies, 

 very sensitive to these influences. 



Osmunda cinnamomea is a distinct and ornamental Fern, 

 quite unlike our Osmunda. Its fertile fronds are produced in 

 spring in the centre of the plant, standing erect, destitute of 

 leafage, the spore-cases clustered together in the 3 or 4 inches 

 of the upper part of the stem. As the spores mature the cases 

 become the colour of cinnamon, and give a very attractive 

 appearance to the plant, but they soon shrivel and die away. 

 The spores when collected are like beautiful green powder. The 

 barren fronds are spreading, and being produced freely, the plants 

 form nice specimens. 



Probably the most beautiful Osmunda in existence is inter* 

 rupta, otherwise known as Claytoniana, which produces rich, 

 velvety-looking fronds of pale green. Its fertile fronds bear the 

 spore-cases midway of the frond, where several pairs of pinn*, 

 instead of developing as the other leafy part, become spore-cases. 

 These in time turn brown, shrivel up, and the frond then has 

 the appearance of having been interrupted in its development, 

 and thus receives its name interrupta. The barren fronds, perfect 

 in their development, are spreading in habit, and the plants 

 are exceedingly pretty. 



Osmunda gracilis is a light, graceful, and pretty form of 

 regalis. borne plants have red and others green leaf-stalks, 

 those with red stems being particularly attractive. 



Struthiopteris pennsylvanica is a strong-growing ornamental 

 Fern, its habit of growth suggesting its common name, " the 

 Shuttlecock Fern," and the peculiarly curled pinnae of the fronds 

 when young suggesting its other name, "Ostrich Feather" 

 Fern. 



Polystichum munitum is a handsome evergreen Fern, which 

 grows to a large size, and resembles to a certain extent a Holly 

 Fern. In California this species attains such a size that clumps 

 are often seen 5 to 6 feet across and 4 feet or more in height. 



