312 
Choice Ferns for Amateurd^ 
P TE R IS — co7iti tiued. 
slender tand gmceful form^ producing two entirely distinct 
sorts of fronds, the barren ones being small and prostrate, 
while the fertile ones, upright and abundant, are IJft. to 
l^ft. long, composed of narrow leafletsi about ^in. broad, and 
beautifully variegated throughout. Although this elegant 
Fern reproduces itself very freely from spores, some of the 
seedlings are thoroughly distinct. Among these we ma/ 
particularly note regince, which has the variegation running 
in narrow stripes to the margins of the leaflets, and is of 
more vigorous growth ; and cristata, a form with very 
prettily and regularly crested fronds, which are also 
beautifully and distinctly variegated. 
P. hastata. 
Synonymous with Pcllcea hastata. 
P. lon^ifolia. 
This deservedly popular, greenhouse species, particu- 
larly useful on account of its decorative qualities and easy 
culture, is found wild in tropical and warm temperate 
regions all round the world. Its broadly spear-shaped 
fronds are simply pinnate, 1ft. to 2ft. long, and 6in. to 9in. 
broad; they are borne on stout, upright stalks Gin. to 12in. 
long and more or less densely clothed in their lower part with 
narrow scales of a pale brown colour. The stalkless leaflets, 
Sin. to Gin. long and seldom more than ^in. broad, are some- 
times slightly eared at the base; they are of a somewhat 
leathery texture and naked and dark green on both sur- 
faces. The sori fall short of the points of the leaflets, 
and are covered by an involucre of parchment-like texture 
and of a yellowish-brown colour. Although hundreds of 
thousands of this species are annually grown for market, no 
variation has ever been found amongst them. P. L Mariesii, 
however, is an exceedingly pretty variety, found growing 
wild by Mr. Ch. Maries in Penang, is remarkable for the 
elegance of its fronds, which, like those of the species, are 
simply pinnate, and for its habit, which is compact, yet very 
graceful. Moreover, it comes perfectly true from spores, 
which are very freely produced. 
P. nobilis. 
This very handsome, stove species, also known in gardens 
under the names of P. elegans and Litohrochia grandis, is 
a native of Southern Brazil. Its fronds, borne on naked, 
wiry stalks 1ft. or more in length, vary considerably as re- 
gards both size and shape, according to the age of the 
plant. In its young state it produces only single, heart- 
shaped fronds ; but those eventually produced are halbert- 
shaped, and finally somewhat palmate in form, with the 
