188 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
fully said that some of the most beautiful of 
all Tree Terns are to be found in Cyathea; but 
whether of gigantic habit, or otherwise, all the 
species are tree-like. 
The distinguishing characters of the family 
reside in the disposition of the spore masses, which 
are invariably situated either on a vein or in the 
axil of the forking of a vein; in the character of 
their receptacles, which are elevated, globose, or 
elongated; and especially in the singular nature of 
their globose, inferior involucres, which cover the 
whole sorus, and which, when mature, break at the 
summit and form a more or less persistent cup 
(hence the generic name from kyatheion, meaning 
a little cup) quite even or irregular at the margin. 
All the species are evergreen. To make good 
growth they require not only an abundance of water 
at the roots, but also that their trunks be kept 
constantly moist. By these means only can Cyatheas 
be induced to produce fine heads of fronds, which 
last all the longer on the plants if they have 
gradually been inured to the sun during the summer. 
Like all other Tree Ferns, Cyatheas are satisfied 
with very little pot-room, and the soil in which they 
should be potted, tubbed, or, better still, planted 
out in the Fernery, is a mixture of three parts 
fibrous peat, one of loam, and one of coarse silver 
sand. Of the numerous species grown, none are 
known to produce adventitious growths along the 
trunk or at the base, and none are known to be 
proliferous. Propagation is usually, therefore, from 
spores; these are abundantly produced and germi- 
nate freely, making very showy young plants in the 
course of a couple of seasons. 
C. Burkei. 
A synonym of C. Drcgei. 
C. dealbata. 
Deservedly the most popular species of the whole genus, 
this beautiful Fern (Fig. 1) is a native of the Northern 
and Middle Islands of New Zealand. The handsome fronds, 
which are borne on smooth, or at the most slightly rough, 
stalks, are from 5ft. to 7ft. in length, of a bluish-green 
