FERNS OF NATAL. 
« 
TRICHOMANES. 
( thrix , hair; manos, soft, in allusion to the hair-like receptacles and 
delicate nature of the frond. 
This genus is separated from the preceding one by the fact, that its 
indusium is entire or nearly so, but the two genera are often confused even 
by botanists. 
Frond simple, pinnatifid, rhizome creeping,... pusiUum. 
„ tripinnatifid, „ pyxitliferum. 
„ „ stipites tufted rigidum. 
T. pusillum. 
( pusillum , tiny or weak). 
A small and delicate fern found upon moist rocks and trunks of trees 
in damp shady bush ; its rhizome is creeping, fronds distant, sessile or 
nearly so, 1 to 3 inches long by £ inch broad, broader at the apex than at 
the base, having some resemblance in its outline to an oak leaf, hence the 
name of the Natal variety, quercifolium or oak-leaved ; the sori are clustered 
round the apex of the frond, with the tube projecting, and its mouth with 
two large rounded lobes, thus approaching closely to Hymenophyllum. It 
is found chiefly in the up-country districts. 
T. pyxidiferum. 
(pyxis, a box, jero, I bear.) 
A very similar plant in appearance to Hymenophyllum Tunbridyense, being 
simply a series of winged veins bearing the fruit in the axils, and having 
the receptacle projecting beyond the mouth of the tube, which is broadly 
dilated but not two-lipped. Its fronds are stated in the Synopsis to be 
from 1 to 6 inches long, but we have never met with them more than two 
inches in length ; and they often cover the exposed surface of the stone 
upon which they grow with a dense mat of fronds. It is a very suitable 
plant for cultivation, as under a bell-glass or in a wardian case it grows 
luxuriantly with a small amount of care. 
T. rigidum, Stiff Bristle Fern. 
This fern, which is a real gem, is found growing beside running water or 
in damp shady places, and near waterfalls, reaching as low as Inanda. It 
is the largest of the genus we have in the Colony; the frond, with the stipes, 
being often 12 to 15 inches long. The stipites are tufted, wiry and naked ; 
and the the frond 3 or 4 times pinnate; the ultimate segments linear, and 
deeply toothed at the apex; the sori are small and axillary, the receptacle 
often projecting considerably beyond the indusium. It is said to blacken 
in drying, but we have found that with care the natural color, which is a 
very dark green, may be preserved or nearly so, but the papers between 
which it is dried must be frequently changed. It is one of the best of 
ferns for indoor cultivation, under a bell-glass it will grow luxuriantly with 
little care provided water be judiciously supplied, and the inside of the 
glass frequently wiped out. Ils fronds have very much the general appear- 
ance of those of T. radicans the Irish Bristle Fern. 
DAVAI.LIA, 
(In honor of Edmund Davall, a Swiss botanist. ) 
A fine genus of ferns usually' with scaly creeping rhizomes, and elegantly 
cut fronds, which are sometimes simply pinnate or tripinnale, but more 
