CULTIVATION 
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They are interesting rather than showy species, always 
healthy and happy in nature ; often not so in cultivation. 
P. viridis is normally an open forest fern, but has also two 
small rock forms, but all the other species avoid forest shade. 
These include P. auriculata , P. Goudotii , P. lancifolia, P. 
quadripinnata , P. Boivini , P. ncimaquensis, P. involuta , P. 
Doniana, P. viridis variety glauca , P. hastata, and P. dura. 
Of these, P. quadripinnata gives the best result under culti- 
vation; the others usually do better planted out than cultivated 
in tins or pots. 
DORYOPTERIS are of very similar habit to Pellaea. D. 
concolor prefers some shrub shelter and open shade, and is 
easily cultivated ; D. deltoidea and D. robusta are from dry 
Namaqualand, and unknown in cultivation. 
PTERIS. — Though closely allied to Pellaea, and usually 
more or less leathery in texture, the species of Pteris are all 
forest ferns and enjoy at least partial shade. 
P. longifolia always grows near a stream, and usually in 
shade, though it sometimes thrives well on a wet sunny bank. 
It is easily cultivated, in well drained loam, and has long been 
a favourite as a greenhouse and house decorative plant. 
P. cretica is common in woods, often away from streams, 
and this also has long been in cultivation as a table or green- 
house decorative plant. A variegated form and a tassellated 
form are also in cultivation. It enjoys light shade, a loamy 
soil, and free drainage. 
P. biaurita , P. dentata , and P. Buchanani are robust forest 
ferns, easy of cultivation, and making nice specimens. The 
young plants make pretty table plants in small pots, but soon 
outgrow these and require large pots or even tubs for their 
full development. 
Histiopteris incisq has a long rhizome, and grows naturally 
in damp forest glades. It is easily cultivated, but is almost 
deciduous, and seldom very pretty. 
Pteridium aquilinum is the bracken, cosmopolitan in its 
range, usually growing in rather moist grassy glades, and 
seldom inside bush, though often at its margin. The long 
underground rhizomes with long nodes make it difficult to 
