250 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
L,YGODl\jyi-co?iHnued, 
rounded or heart-shaped at the base, 2in. to Sin. long, ^in. 
to fin. broad, all articulated at the base, and the lower 
ones short-stalked; they are also rendered very attractive 
by their margins being finely toothed and beautifully wavy. 
The fertile segments, which are broader, though shorter, 
than the barren ones, bear the small, oblong fruit-spikes, 
one to three lines long, in close rows on the margins, where 
they appear like so many blunt teeth. A soil of a little 
more substantial nature than that recommended for the 
other species suits L. reticulatum (also called Lygodictyon 
Forsteri) best. 
L. scandens. 
This is a species of very slender growth and somewhat 
bushy habit, thoroughly distinct from the L. scandens of 
commerce, which is synonymous with L. japonicum. A 
character peculiar to this species is the natural propensity 
which it possesses for developing fresh young shoots all 
along the stems, being in that respect much more prolific 
than any other species in cultivation. The variety micro- 
phyllum is a common form, w^ith short, broad segments. 
Fig. 102. 
MARATTIA. 
Marattias are distinctly characterised by their 
sometimes stalkless, sometimes shortly-stalked, 
capsules, from four to twelve of which are usually 
joined together in concrete, boat-shaped masses 
(synangia) : these consist of two opposite rows of 
capsules, and open by slits down their inner faces. 
The genus includes Eumarattia, Euyodium, and 
Gymnotheca, 
The Marattias are highly ornamental, robust- 
growing Ferns, and although they do not form 
trunks, generally attain very large dimensions. 
Being swamp-loving plants, they should be potted 
in a substantial compost, and the pots partially 
placed in water. A mixture of about equal parts of 
roughly-broken peat, loam, and river sand is one in 
which they thrive most luxuriantly, especially if 
given a good amount of heat. M. fraxinea elegans, 
however, has been kept in a cold Fernery for several 
consecutive years, and indeed made very good pro- 
gress during the summer months, although resting in 
the winter; but it is, we believe, the only one 
