A Dictionary of Choice Ferns, 
155 
ASPl.KNl\JM— continued. 
forming a graceful plume of finely-divided fronds, spread- 
ing on all sides. It is better known as A, Veitchianum. 
The fronds, 1ft. to l^ft. long, 2in. to Sin. broad, and bipin- 
nate, are borne on firm, erect, smooth stalks of a greenish 
colour and from 4in. to Sin. long. The numerous and 
closely-set leaflets are almost horizontal, lin. to IJin. long, 
^in. broad, and proliferous on their entire length; they are 
rounded at the point, truncate at the base on the lower 
side, and regularly cut down throughout to a broadly- 
winged stalk into blunt, linetar lobes or lea fits; the 
latter are all simple except the basal one on the upper 
side of the pinnae, which is always once and frequently 
twice forked. The spore masses, produced over the whole 
under-surface of the frond, are long and narrow; one is dis- 
posed on eacli segment or lobe, where it is situated on the 
exterior side, and as is characteristic of plants belonging 
to the sub-genus Darea. These spore masses open on the out- 
ward side — the side turned away from the rachis. Fig. 71. 
A. biforme. 
Synonymous with A. dimorphum. 
A. bulbiferum. 
Perhaps the best-known and most universally grown of 
all the Aspleniums is this greenhouse species, from New 
Zealand, Australia, &c., owing to its rapid growth, its 
robustness, and its easy cultivation ; while the fact of its being 
viviparous in the highest degree accounts for its being met 
with in almost every collection. It is also one of the best 
of all Ferns for dwelling-rooms. Its fronds, l^ft. to 2ft. 
long and Sin. to 12in. broad, are borne on stalks 6in. to 
lOin. long, green on the upper side and brown below; they 
are spear-shaped, bearing numerous oblong leaflets, 4in. to 
Sin. long and l^in. to 2in. broad, cut down to a compressed, 
winged stalk into numerous somewhat egg-shaped leafits, 
the largest of which are usually situated near the midrib, 
and wedge-shap.ed lat the base. ThougTi of a natunally 
erect and somewhat stiff habit, the fronds are usually quite 
pendulous by the great quantities of young plants with 
which their entire surface is covered at some time of the 
year, and these young plants may frequently be seen with 
half-a-dozen fronds of their own. The principal varieties of 
this species are A. b. Fahianum and A. h. laxum 
(commonly known in commerce under the name of A. laxum 
pumilum). The latter is particularly handsome. 
