28 
THE FERNS OF SOUTH AFRICA 
in a tree, or to grow in mossy leaf mould ; P. linear e and 
P. Pappei are more distinctly epiphytal on mossy trunks, or 
in cracks of rocks ; while P. polypodioides, P. ensiforme, P. 
lanceolatum and P. lycopodioides are usually quite epiphytic, 
and often without moss, all having long rooting rhizomes. 
For such kinds the best culture is to wire them on to a stem, 
living if possible, with or without a little moss, and keep them 
constantly moist but not saturated, until they form new roots 
which adhere to the stem, and produce new growth if the 
atmosphere is reasonably moist. These epiphytal Polypo- 
diums are curious rather than pretty, and P polypodioides has 
the additional feature of rolling its fronds up, as if dead, 
during drought, and expanding them again in full vigour 
as soon as the atmosphere is moist. P. parvulum is not 
known in cultivation, but is presumably epiphytal. P. loxo- 
gramme is an epiphyte, growing on mossy trunks in dense 
shade. It resembles P olypodium lineare , flags easily, and has 
no particularly attractive features. 
Cyclophorus africanus is also epiphytal, usually on the 
stems of tree ferns. 
Notholaena (=Nothocklaena). — This little group belongs 
normally to hot dry rocky country, where N. inaequalis and 
N. Eckloniana are often found on almost bare rock, or occupy- 
ing little cracks in the rocks, and fully exposed to sunshine. 
They are prepared for heat and drought by having the upper 
surface of the frond leathery and the under surface densely 
clothed with scales ; they curl up and look withered during 
drought and expand fresh again when moistened. N. Buck- 
anani prefers the moist and shady side of a rock, but other- 
wise its habitat is similar. These are difficult ferns to keep in 
good health in cultivation, but their natural habitats indicate 
their requirements. N. Rawsoni has only once been found, 
the locality being in Namaqualand. 
Anogramma leptophylla is probably the only true annual 
among South African ferns ; it is a pretty but delicate little 
plant, three inches high, growing on waterfall banks or debris , 
and requiring the same conditions as filmy ferns in cultivation. 
