32 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
\’OL. 2 
golden green fronds of the Mountain Bracken {Da‘i;allia 
(hihia), and as if that was not feast enough for the eyes, 
there were to be seen, nestling in the shelter of the larger 
fern, luxurious patches of the Umbrella or Star fern 
(Gleichevia jlahellaici). It is into such places of enchantment 
as these that the fern collector is naturally drawn, and 
\\henever the existence of such a sjx)t h.itherto unexplored 
by him is heard of, he is eager to be there. Fortunately, 
Queensland contains such s}X)ts in almost unlimited numbers, 
and \’ery few parts of it are entirely destitute. 
Very man}' Queensland ferns are easily cultivated in 
an orcLnarv bush or shade house ; l)ut there are also a large 
number which are very difficult to do anything with. I 
shall only refer to those which I would place in the former 
class, describing briefly where to look for those from which 
the best results may be obtained ; and here let me say that, 
as I have ii(^ personal acquaintance with the northern portion. 
I shall confine mv attention almost entirel}^ to ferns common 
to Southern Queensland. 
Tree Ferns.— There are several kinds of ferns known as 
Tree ferns, but the one most generally known and cultivated 
is Alsophila cwsiralis, and well does it merit its popularity. 
It is fairly common in Southern Queensland, and is very 
hardy. It is usually found growing on the edge of a water- 
course. generally near a scrub, tlK)ugh often in shaded forest 
country. Where they are known to exist, or to have existed, 
small seedlings may often be found on the very edge of the 
water, or on very danqi ground if well shaded, and the 
smallest of these may be easih' coaxed into good plants. 
In planting these, it is well to remember that this fern very 
soon grows too large for the ordinary bush-house, and also 
that if ]ilanted in the open garden it must be sheltered from 
the cutting westerly wind and the scorching afternoon sun. 
Todea barbara.- This is commonly called the Swamp 
Tree Fern. It forms a stem, but this, unlike the common 
Tree fern, may have more than one head to it, and each of 
these heads if removed with a portion of the stem (which by 
the way is not a true stem, but the root of tlie plant) may 
be grown into a handsome plant, if planted in a well-shaded 
S]X)t. It is a beautiful plant, and well worth growing. It 
is plentiful at the foot of Buderim Mountain, and may be 
found on Stradbroke and in other coastal swamps. 
The Prickly Tree Fern {Alsoplnla Leichhardtiana) is very 
similar to .U australis in habit, though perhaps not quite 
so large in growth Its leaf stem is quite rough and ])dckly. 
It is, I believe, confined to the coastal scrubs, and plentiful 
on the North Coast. 
