EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. 



lxxxi 



Aspleniums and Aspidiums — both very extensive genera — 

 were well represented, the former by A. brasiliense fragrans, 

 a pretty plant, the fronds of which emit a fragrant odour when 

 cut and dried ; Nidus, or the Bird's-nest Asplenium ; and nobilis, 

 with finely-cut fronds : the latter by dilaceratum, the bold and 

 attractive Plumierii, and the very ornamental trifoliatum. The 

 " Lace Fern " (Cheilanthes elegans) does justice to its name, and 

 looked well in company with its brothers — the exceedingly rare 

 and distinct tenuis and viscosa. The Davallias, or Hare's-foot 



Fig. 59. — G. peruviana argyeophylla. 



Ferns (so called from the brown hairy rhizomes), are deservedly 

 popular Ferns. The varieties shown were alpina, dwarf ; the free- 

 growing decora ; dissecta, and its light, graceful variety elegans, 

 with finely- cut fronds ; fijiensis, and about twenty other kinds. 



The Gold and Silver Ferns (Gymnogrammes) are always 

 attractive to amateurs, and on this occasion their tastes were 

 gratified by seeing nearly a score of beautiful examples. Perhaps 

 the most remarkably handsome form was G. schizophylla 

 gloriosa (fig. 58), which makes a handsome ornament when 

 grown in a basket suspended from the roof of a greenhouse. 



