318 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
known Fern, and consists of the two or three pairs of 
lower leaflets of the frond being tripinnate, each 
leafit becoming a raceme of stalked, cup-shaped in- 
volucres. Although fertile fronds have at various 
times been produced in this country and every pos- 
sible attention has been paid to the sowing of their 
spores, there is nO' record of any young plants having 
been so raised, and the propagating of this handsome 
Fern has therefore been limited to the rooting of the 
lateral shoots which are produced on the trunk. 
The species T , eJegaiis is a native of Juan Fernandez. 
It has a trunk l^ft. high, bearing fronds 3ft. to 4ft. 
long, densely covered with rusty-brown scales. 
TODEA. 
The plants comprised in this small genus of 
Crape Ferns vary greatly in appearance and texture, 
some having leathery foliage of a very resisting 
nature, while that of most is finely divided, very 
fragile, and transparent. All require greenhouse 
treatment, and, with the exception of T. barbara and 
its variety, which do not suffer from exposure to air 
and light, all are much benefited by close confine- 
ment. Indeed, condensed moisture is absolutely 
necessary to their well-being, and this cannot be 
obtained without a close atmosphere. 'No sun should 
ever be allowed to shine on plants having filmy 
foliage, and the less they are disturbed at the 
roots the better : the hot, dry atmosphere of the 
summer months is undoubtedly their greatest enemy. 
The soil in which Todeas thrive best is a compost of 
peat and silver sand, to which a small portion of 
partly-decomposed sphagnum may be added with 
advantage. They are easily propagated from their 
spores, w^hich are produced in abundance and 
germinate readily when sown under favourable 
conditions ; but they are of comparatively slow 
grow^th, seedlings requiring a long time to develop. 
T. africana. 
Synonymous with T. harhara, 
T. arborea. 
A garden name for T, harhara. 
