268 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
NKPHROl^KPlS-con/inued. 
of a naked or slightly s-caly aiiatiire. The somewhat leathery 
leaflets, 4in. to Gin. long and ^in. to lin. broiad, are acute, 
the edge being entire or slightly notched, the upper side 
eared, and the lower side rounded at the base. The sori 
are disposed near the margin. There is a useful crested 
variety of this usually grown for market under the name 
of N, ensifolia Westoni. 
N. Bausei. 
This garden-raised plant is one of the most distinct of 
the whole genus. Its numerous, somewhat erect fronds, 
more than 1ft. long, leafy from the base, and of a soft, 
bright green colour, have a peculiarly graceful appearance, 
produced by the feathery nature of their leaflets, which, 
instead of being entire, as is the case with others of the 
same genus, are divided nearly to the midrib. This and 
the dense dwarf habit of the plant render it very striking. 
It originated among some seedlings of N. pluma, and, lik< 
that species, thrives equally well in a stove or in an inter- 
mediate house, and is entirely deciduous. This plant repro- 
duces itself true from spores. It should be kept sufficiently 
moist in w^ater to prevent shrivelling. 
N. biserrata. 
Synonymous with N. acuta. 
N. cordifolia. 
From a decorative point of view, this is perhaps the 
most useful of all the known species ; it thrives well under 
cool treatment. It is more extensively known in gardens 
under the name of N. tuherosa, and sometimes is also met 
w^ith vmder those of N, imhrieata and N. ohtusifolia. Its 
habitat extends from Cuba and Mexico to Brazil and Peru, 
and from Japan and India southward to Australia and New 
Zealand. It is of intermediate size and somewhat erect in 
habit. The fronds, borne on tufted, wiry stalks slightly 
scaly at the base, are Ift. to 2ft. long, and seldom more 
than 2in. broad. The numerous leaflets, about lin. long 
and ^in. broad, are very closely set, sometimes overlapping; 
their base is rounded or heart-shaped on the lower side and 
distinctly eared on the upper side ; they are usually blunt, 
have their edge entire or sliglitly notched, and are of a rich, 
dark green colour. The sori, disposed in a row about half- 
way between the midrib and the edge, are covered with a 
firm, distinctly kidney-shaped involucre, oblique or opening 
towards the outer edge. 
N. c. compacta. 
A most elegant form of the above species. Its arching 
fronds spread in all directions from a common centre; they 
