A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
289 
PELLiCA. 
In habit of growth, as also in geographical dis- 
tribution, the Cliff Brake Ferns, or Pellseas are 
closely allied to Cheilanthes, from which they differ 
principally throvigh the continuous nature of their 
involucre. The distinguishing characters of the 
plants belonging to this genus reside in the dis- 
position of the sori. These are within the margin, 
terminal on the veins, which in nearly all cases are 
free, at first dot-like or decurrent on the veins, but 
soon running into a line; also in the character of 
the involucre, which is formed of the more or less 
changed edge of the frond, quite continuous and 
sometimes very narrow. The genus includes Allo- 
sorus, Cheiloplecton, HolcochlcEna, and Platyloma, 
All the Pellseas are of small or medium dimen- 
sions, and are very useful for planting in rockeries 
or in small hanging baskets, in which positions they 
are much more effective than when grown in pots. 
They require but little soil, and a comparatively 
exposed situation suits them best. They flourish in 
a compost of a light and very porous nature, such as 
a mixture of two parts peat, one part loam, and one 
part silver sand, or, better still, pulverised old 
mortar, in which their thin, fibrous roots delight to 
run. Pellseas should not at any time be allowed to 
get dry at the roots; yet, on the other hand, their 
foliage should never be wetted. They prefer being 
kept close to the light, which is never too strong for 
them, provided they are sheltered from the direct 
rays of the sun. Most of the known species are 
readily propagated by spores, which are abundantly 
produced and germinate freely. Those species pro- 
vided with running rhizomes may be propagated by 
division during March and April. 
P, adiantoides. 
In gardens, this vigorous, West Indian, greenhouse 
species, is extensively grown under the names of Pteris 
adiantifolia, P. adiantoides, and P. latifolia. The whole 
plant is of a piarticularly dark green colour, and its general 
appearance is that of a large form of P. hastata. 
U 
