Da vallia. 
19 
DAVALLIA. 
IS is a large and handsome genus, having its head-quarters in the tropics of 
the Old World, and containing about a hundred species. As might be 
expected among so many, we find a great diversity in form and size — some 
of the species, indeed, differing so extensively from each other in habit, that 
were it not for the technical character, it would be impossible to trace the 
connection between them. A large number resemble the Hare’s-foot Fern 
(D. canariensis) , which is the solitary European representative of the genus, in 
general appearance. One small group contains species remarkable on account 
of their climbing habits, the fronds being several feet long, and the rachis in 
two West Indian species ( D . aculeata and D. uncinella ) being clothed with 
scattered prickles, and somewhat bramble-like in habit. The former of these 
attracted the attention of Plunder, who, writing in 1703, speaks of it as having a stem no larger 
than a writing-pen, but extending in every direction by means of long branches, which are as 
hard as wood and quite black and woolly. The whole plant resembles a bramble rather than 
a fern, in consequence of its spiny character. It occupies considerable space, climbing over the 
forest-trees near which it grows. In Hispaniola, Plumier speaks of having seen a whole field 
entirely covered with it, “in a place which the buccaneers call ‘spiny bottom.’ The same 
buccaneers call the plant the French Fern.” 
Another section, which is often regarded as a separate genus under the name Humata , and 
is very distinct in habit, is dimorphic, that is to say, the fronds are of two kinds, barren and 
fertile, and very different in appearance, the barren ones being sometimes entire ; D. pamllela 
at first sight almost exactly resembles the common Polypody (Polypodium vulgari) ; these 
are natives for the most part of the Malay Peninsula. D. elegans has long pinnate fronds, 
which are sometimes two feet in length, the sori being borne upon the edges of the pinnae ; 
D. parvula, on the other hand, is, as its name implies, of very small size, the fronds being less 
than an inch in length — produced at short intervals along the slender rhizome ; in cultivation 
it will do well upon a block of wood, or upon the stem of a tree fern. Some species have 
fronds so finely divided that when mounted on paper they resemble most delicate lace ; of 
these, a Fijian species, D. fceniculacea, having, as its name implies, fennel-like leaves, is perhaps 
the most striking. 
The species of Davallia are not difficult to cultivate ; they grow well in a compost of 
fitrous peat and sand, to which about one-fifth of fresh turfy loam may be added ; they require 
to be thoroughly well-drained, although they like plenty of water when growing. Besides D. 
canariensis, another species, D. pyxidata, which much resembles it, has long been in cultivation in 
England, having been introduced from Australia by George Caley in 1808. Many Davallias are 
now grown, the genus having lately been very popular ; one of the handsomest is D. Mooreana, 
a native of Borneo, which has gracefully arching and much divided pale green fronds about four 
feet in length, and nearly as broad at the base ; a specimen, recently described, produced 
at the same time about 150 fully developed fronds, having a spread of 8^ feet. 
Another recent introduction, D. Tyermani, is a native of West Tropical Africa, and is readily 
distinguished by its silvery rhizome and dark glossy fronds. One species (D. Novce-Z elan died) 
