204 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
DAVALLIA — continued. 
mahogany-brown colour, and from 4in. to Sin. long. The 
lower leafits are cut down to the rachis, except towards 
their extremity, into narrow, deeply-pinnatifid segments, 
on the teeth of which the minute and numerous spore 
masses are disposed. The rhizoanes, which are of a 
peculiarly wiry nature, do not bury themselves in the 
ground. 
D. pallida. 
This beautiful stove species, native of Aneiteum and 
Borneo, and usually known as D. Mooreana, is undoubtedly 
one of the handsomest decorative Ferns known. Its robust 
fronds, of an elongated-triangular form, 2ft. to 3ft. long, 
and four times pinnatifid, are produced on rhizomes as 
thick as one's finger, wide-creeping, and covered with spear- 
shaped scales of a dark brown colour ; they are borne on 
smooth, naked stalks 1ft. to l^ft. long, and furnished with 
triangular leaflets, the lowest, which usually are also the 
largest, frequently measuring Gin. to Sin. broad at their 
base. The leafits land their segments are stalked and 
wedge-shaped at their base; they are of a firm and some- 
what leathery texture, the lobes into which they are finally 
divided, and upon which the spore masses are disposed on 
the upper side lat the b^ise, being blunt and wedge- 
shaped. That the merits of D. pallida are fully appreciated 
by Fern-growers in general, is amply demonstrated by the 
fact that huge specimens of it are to be seen at all flower 
shows, for which purpose it is admirably adapted. It is 
a Fern of rapid growth, possessing the great advantage, 
from the decorator's point of view, of making a large 
specimen in a compa natively small pot. 
D. polyantha. 
Synonymous with D. divaricata. 
D. tenuifolia Veitchiana. 
The rhizomes of this variety are of such a very short- 
creeping nature that the plant appears quite destitute of 
the hare's-foot-like growths so peculiar to Davallias in 
general, its fronds being produced in great abundance from 
what appears to be a densely-tufted crown formed by under- 
ground rhizomes. It is a most beautiful and distinct 
variety, easily distinguished from the type by its elegant 
and pendulous, plume-like fronds, 2Ht. to 3ft. in length, 
including the stalks, very finely cut and gracefully arching 
on all sides. Their leafy portion, of a broadly spear- 
shaped outline, is furnished with numerous leaflets, which 
are divided into lace-like leafits and segments, much longer 
