36 
BRITISH FERNS. 
and narrow, contracted ; stems scaly. A bold, handsome 
species. A native of the Cape, as its name indicates. 
Blechnum Magellanicum . Magellan Hard-fern. Caudex 
erect, thick ; barren fronds pinnate, lance-shaped, 2 feet 
long; fertile fronds pinnate; the pirmse narrower, con- 
tracted, sharp-pointed. This fern may be considered as 
a dwarf shrubby species, plants having been seen on the 
Organ mountains of Brazil 4 feet high. It is a native 
of Tierra del Fuego, and is called from the neighbouring 
Straits. 
Blechnum nudum . Naked Hard-fern . Caudex creeping, 
many-headed ; fronds pinnate ; barren ones broadly 
lance-shaped, of a beautiful dark shining green, 1^ foot 
high ; fertile one with the pinnse sickle-shaped, narrow, 
and sharp-pointed. One of the most effective ferns of 
this group. A native of Van Diemen’s Land. 
Many new species of Blechnum have been recently 
introduced into Britain, some as greenhouse, others as 
stove ferns. Mr. Standish, of Ascot, and Mr. Lee, of 
Hammersmith, show a great variety. 
Adiantum assimile. Fronds tripinnate; leaflets rhom- 
boid and somewhat serrated; involucres kidney-shaped. 
The creeping caudex soon covers the surface of the 
mould in the pot, and the fronds, freely thrown up on 
every side, bend in various graceful forms. It is pecu- 
liarly suited for an epergne on a dinner table, and plants 
destined for that purpose should be placed on a pedestal 
in the greenhouse, formed by a large inverted pot, so as 
to allow free scope for the development and drooping of 
the fronds. It is a native of Australia. 
Adiantum scahrum. Silver Maiden-hair. Recently in- 
troduced from Chili. A dwarf plant, sprinkled with 
powder, like some of the Gymnograms. 
