CULTIVATION 
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including A. Dregeanum, A. auriculatum , A. bipinnatum and 
others, are of firm leathery texture and grow on the moss 
surrounding tree trunks, or on half-decayed tree-roots, and 
many other species of Asplenium also enjoy this class of 
habitat. The genus includes some of our finest native ferns, 
often cultivated elsewhere, including A. praemorsum, A. abyssi- 
nicum , A. cuneatum , A. gem miferum, A. serra, A. prionitis, A. 
anisophyllum , A. protensum, A. lunulatum and A. bipinnatum , 
any one of which is suitable for a show specimen. 
Besides those already mentioned, the genus includes A. 
Kraussii, A. Sander soni , A. platyneuron , A. monanthes, A. 
varians , A. pumilum, A. Raw soni, and A. Mannii — all pretty 
little ferns. 
A constantly moist atmosphere and constantly moist open 
soil, with reasonable shade, may be taken as the requirement 
of all except A. trichomanes , A. adiantum-nigrum , and A. 
solidum ; these three enjoy sunlight combined with moist soil 
and air. 
A. theciferum is a leathery, epiphytic fern, usually growing 
in moss either on tree trunks or on stones ; it is very like 
Asplenium bipinnatum , but less satisfactory in cultivation, 
suffers more under drought, and is never particularly pretty. 
A. Hollandii , a Rhodesian species, is one of the most 
beautiful ferns I have seen, but I have no information as to 
its cultural requirements. 
ATHYRIUM is exactly similar in its requirements to the 
forest-stream species of Asplenium. 
ACTINIOPTERIS RADIATA is one of the curiosities of fern 
life. It grows only a few inches high, with firm fan-shaped 
little fronds; it occurs usually in rock-cracks in full sunshine 
in the drier northern portions of South Africa. It is culti- 
vated in Europe among broken bricks, under glass, but is 
never showy. 
Didymochlaena TRUNCATULA is a fine fern, well worth 
cultivation. It somewhat resembles one of the larger two- 
pinnate Adiantums, with fronds up to five feet in height, 
