E ur ope a n Ferns. 
13S 
naked below, and are thus very unlike the densely scaly fronds of the Ceterach ; they are heart- 
shaped at the base, and elongated at the apex, as is the case with the common Hart’s-tongue. 
We have already had occasion, when speaking of the Aspleniums, to refer to cases of 
hybridity among ferns. It is usually between species of the same genus that hybrids are 
formed, but instances are not wanting where the parents of the hybrid belong to different 
genera, as in the present instance. Another example is offered by the North American fern 
Asplenium ebenoides, which is believed to be a hybrid between a species of Asplenium 
(A. ebeneuvi) and the “Walking Leaf” ( Camptosorus rhizophyllus). 
An extremely pretty and distinct little fern seems to demand a word of notice here. It 
is not a native of Europe, and thus, strictly speaking, has no claims to be referred to ; but it 
is one which is so frequently represented in collections of eastern plants that we feel that it 
deserves a word in passing. This is Actiniopteris radiaia, a plant which is at once recognised 
on account of the resemblance of its fronds to the foliage of a palm-tree of the genus 
C/iamcerops. There is only one species of the genus, and our figure will give a better idea 
of the habit and general appearance of the plant than could be conveyed by a verbal 
description. The technical peculiarities of the genus, according to Mr. Moore, “consist in 
the simple distinct indusia, free veins, and linear elongate sori, which are marginal on the 
contracted rachiform segments of the small flabelliform fronds.” The Actiniopteris grows 
from three to six inches high, the segments of the fan-shaped fronds being very narrow, 
divided about half-way down, and of a pale-green colour. It is rather widely distributed, 
being found in Tropical Asia and Tropical Africa ; it is recorded for Northern and Southern 
India, and occurs in Arabia and Upper Egypt, at the Cape, and in the Mascarene islands. 
It will succeed well if planted in fibrous peat and sand with small blocks of sandstone inter- 
spersed ; and deserves to be more frequently met with in cultivation than is at present 
the case. 
ACTINIOPTERIS RADIATA. 
