XXXiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Trichomanes reniforme is a most distinct Filmy, having 

 large kidney- shaped fronds, on the edge of which the fruit 

 (son), when ripe, stand out like the teeth of a saw. 



Todeas are highly ornamental Ferns, and require to be treated 

 somewhat in the same way as Filmies. T. pellucida (fig. 63) 

 and T. superba (fig. 64) are both exceedingly beautiful ; the 

 former is very free-growing, and the latter has very dense, almost 

 feathery, fronds of the most delicate texture. 



Passing on to the British Ferns, one was struck with the 



Fig. 63. — Todea pellucida. 

 great beauty and variety of them. It is only by careful study of 

 this class that one is enabled to form a correct idea of the great 

 wealth of beautiful forms into which the comparatively small 

 number of British species have been developed, and much is due 

 not only to Messrs. Birkenhead for their labours in this direction, 

 but also to several ardent amateurs. 



To particularise, it might be mentioned that Aspleniums and 

 Athyriums were staged in great variety, including many of the 

 rarest forms. There were about a dozen distinct kinds of the 

 " Hard Fern " (Blechnum spicant), as well as many of the Male, 

 Buckler, and other popularly named sorts, including a great 

 variety of Polypodiums and Scolopendriums. The latter genus 



