A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
89 
thrives in a lower temperature than that suggested 
above for the type. 
A. radiata. 
This charming little Fern is found throughout India. 
It is of tufted habit, producing from a close, compact 
crown a quantity of fronds borne on slender and naked 
stalks 2in. to 6i.n. long. Tho leafy portion of the frond 
itself is fan-shaped, tand seldom exceeds IJin. each way; it 
consists of numerous sub-divisions of a rush-like texture. 
They are divided about half the distance down, of a bright 
green colour, and very glossy. The segments of the fertile 
f);onds are longer than those of the barren ones, and these 
fronds are also borne on longer stalks. 
A. r. australis. 
In all respects this is a stronger and more vigorous 
grower than the type. The habit of the plant, though 
quite as compact, is not so stiff, the fronds frequently 
attaining a height of Sin. The segments are less numerous, 
much more deeply divided, larger, and in the fertile fronds 
are awl-shaped at the points; they are also of a darker 
green colour and very glossy. Fig. 51. 
ADIANTOPSIS. See Cheilanthes. 
ADIANTUM. 
Linnaeus himself stands sponsor for this genus, 
which is said to have its headquarters in tropical 
America, although a good many species are natives 
of more temperate climates. Most of the known 
species are recognisable from all other Ferns but the 
typical Lindsayas by the texture, as also by the one- 
sidedness of their sub-divisions, and by the absence 
of an apparent and distinct midrib in the segments. 
The stalks of most Adiantums are black, and have a 
glossy appearance. The fronds vary from simple 
to decompound; while the leaflets usually terminate 
abruptly, or are dimidiate, and bear their sori on 
the upper margin only; the veins generally are 
simple, radiating, and forked, coalescing in only 
four species (section Hewardia). As now made up 
the genus numbers upwards of eighty species. 
It is in this extensive and varied genus that 
most of the Ferns best adapted for decoration are to 
be found. Adiantums are popularly known as 
