A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
261 
NKPllRODl\jyi—eo7itlmied. 
stalks 1ft. or mor© in length. The longj rough, black or 
very dark, chaffy scales with which these stialks lare densely 
clothed, give n most conspicuous appearance to the whole 
pliant, which is also rendered lall the more decorative by the 
way in which the fronds are disposed, forming as it were 
a natural vase of beautiful dark groem colour. A singular 
character, quite peculiar to this plant, is that during the 
winter the stalks get very soft and brownish at their base, 
and the trends have then a tendency to fall around the 
plant; in that state, however, they retain their colour and 
Fig. 105. Nephrodium fragrans, the fragrant Wood Fern of 
North America. 
freshness for several months if only held up by a little black 
thread, which can easily be concealed. Also known as 
Nephrodium atratum. 
N, hispid um. 
This lovely, greenhouse species, native of New Zealand 
and Australia, is a well-marked plant of medium dimen- 
sions. The elegantly-arching fronds, 1ft. to l^ft. long, 8in. 
to 12in. broad, of a somewhat triangular shape, and pro- 
duced from a istout, creeping rhizome, are borne on wiry, 
brown stalks 1ft. to l^ft. long, clothed with rough, nearly 
black, narrow scales. The spear-shaped leaflets have their 
lowest leafits larger than the others, each lea fit being cut down 
