A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
273 
NKPHROLjKPIS— continued. 
N. punctulata. 
Synonymous witli N. acuta. 
N. rufescens. 
Altliougli som-etimes regard-ed las a variety of N. acuta^ 
this r-emarkably handsome plant appears to be sufficiently 
distinct to rank as a species. The upright habit of its 
fronds^ 2ft. to 3ft. loing, the rusty-coloured woolly nature of 
their stalks and of the under-surface of the leaflets, and 
the deeply-cleft character of the leaflets, render the plant 
of more interest than a mere variety of N, acuta, 
N. r. tripinnatifida. 
This free-growing, stove variety, is one of the most dis- 
tinct and beautiful of all the strong-growing kinds, and is 
a native of the Fiji Islands. Its fronds have a particularly 
upright habit, and are 2ft. to 3ft. long and lin. to Gin. 
broad ; they are of a lovely bright green colour, which forms 
a pleasing contrast with the reddish tint of their rachis. 
They possess a peculiarly massive, yet feathery appearance, 
produced by the broad leaflets, of a soft, papery texture, 
being regularly and constantly tripinnatifid, their margins 
being on both sides deeply cleft and covering each other 
in a graceful and most effective manner, much in the way 
of the better - known and very popular Welsh Polypody. 
This variety is very useful either for pot culture or for 
pianting out in the warm Fernery. Like nearly all plumose 
forms of species of Ferns already in cultivation, it has 
proved entirely barren ; but, being provided with the wiry, 
running rhizomes, peculiar to the genus, it may be easily 
propagated by the same method as that employed for com- 
moner kinds, which produce young plants on their rhizomes 
at intervals. Fig. 108. 
N. splendens. 
Synonymous with N. acuta. 
N. tuberosa. 
Synonymous with N. cor di folia. 
NIPHOBOLUS. See Polypodium. 
NIPHOPSIS. See Polypodium. 
NOTHOCHL/CNA. 
The Gold and Silver Maidenliairs found in 
this genus are closely related to Cheilanthes,^ from 
which they differ only by the absence of a distinct 
involucre, and with which they are connected by 
gradual intermediate stages. 
T 
