550 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
Vi OODViARDl A— continued 
W. radicans. 
This exceedingly handsome^ strong-growing, evergreen 
Fern derives its specific name from the viviparous char- 
acter of its fronds, which, unlike those of the foregoing 
species, have only from two to four large bulbils produced at 
their extremity; these root into any damp material with 
which they may be brought into contact, rapidly forming 
young plants similar to the parent. Its elegantly pendu- 
lous fronds, borne on strong, round stalks 1ft. to 2ft. long, 
are 3ft. to 6ft. long, l^ft. to 2ft. broad, and simply 
pinnate. The oblong-spear-shaped leaflets, about 1ft. long, 
are cut down below within a short distance of the rachis 
into finely-toothed, spear-shaped, bright green leafits. Near 
the extremity of each frond usually one plant (sometimes 
as many as four) is produced, which will grow to a con- 
siderable size whilst on the frond; indeed, it is not at 
all uncommon to see plants with half-a-dozen fronds 1ft. 
long receiving all their support from the parent frond. 
W. r. Brownii. 
Synonymous with W. r. cristata. 
W. r. Burgfesiana. 
This variety, introduced from the Azores, is of quite 
distinct appearance. Its very handsome, light, elegant 
fronds, which sometimes attain 2^ft. in length, have their 
leaflets and leafits uniformly depauperated; they are of 
a somewhat harsh, leathery texture and beautifully saw- 
toothed throughout. It is as proliferous as the type, and is 
readily propagated by the pegging-down of the bulbils borne 
at the extremity of the fronds. 
W. r. cristata. 
In this variety, which was originally discovered in the 
Island of St. Michael by Mr. George Brown, the leaflets 
and leafits of the fronds, Avhich are much shorter than those 
of the typieal plant, are extensively subdivided. This 
variety is readily increased by the viviparous buds which are 
produced at the ends of the fronds, as in the typical plant, 
and it is also worthy of notice that the characters peculiar 
to cristata are quite apparent in young plants only a few 
inches high. W. r, Brownii is another name for the 
variety. 
ERRATUM. 
Page 14, for Lygodium japonica read Lygodium japoniciim. 
