262 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
NKPHRODWyi—co7ithmed. 
to a winged stalk into small, oblong or linear, sharply- 
toothed lobes of a leathery texture, dark green colour, and 
particularly shining nature. The abundant and conspicuous 
sori almost entirely cover the under-side of the fertile fronds. 
A species particularly adapted for growing in a Fern-case 
in the dwelling-room, where, in the company of Todeas and 
other Filmies, it will be found to thrive admirably. Either 
as a pot plant or planted out it forms a beautiful and in- 
teresting object. 
N. lepidum. 
A remarkably elegant, greenhouse Fern, which origi- 
nated at the Pine-Apple Nursery, Edgware Road, London. 
It may be a distinct species, though it has all the appeaarnce 
of a deeply-contracted form of the popular N. patens, of 
which it possesses most of the outward characters. 
N. membranifolium. 
Synonymous with N. dissectum. 
N. molle. 
On account of its free growth and prolific character, this 
greenhouse species, of medium dimensions, is frequently met 
with ; it is a variable plant, with a remarkably wide range of 
habitat — Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, the Himalayas, Hong 
Kong, New Zealand, &c. Its spear-shaped fronds, 1ft. to 
2ft. long. Sin. to 12in. broad, and borne on tufted, somewhat 
slender stalks 1ft. or more in length and slightly soaly at 
tile base, have their leaflets, 4in. to Gin. long, |in. broad, 
of a soft, papery texture and pale green colour, cut about 
half-way down to the midrib into narrow, blunt lobes (Fig. 
106) ; the lower leaflets are placed at a little distance from 
each other, and are rather shorter than the others, which 
become more closely set as they approach the summit. The 
sori are distant from the midrib, and are covered with a 
very hairy involucre of a purplish colour. It succeeds under 
either stove or greenhouse treatment. It does well either 
grown in a pot or planted out in the rockery, where it 
forms a capital background, showing off to advantage other 
and choicer Ferns, and in which position it soon multiplies, 
as it is readily propagated from spores. Several varieties 
of N. molle have been produced under cultivation, the most 
distinct being N. m. corymhiferum and N. m. grandiceps. 
N. montanum. 
This interesting, hardy species, known as the Mountain 
Buckler Fern, has spear-shaped fronds, produced from a 
dense, clustered crown ; they are borne on short, tufted 
stalks, furnished at their base with chaffy scales of a light 
brown colour, are l^ft. to 2ft. long, 6in. to Sin. broad, and 
