CULTIVATION IN GREENHOUSES. 
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pinnae roundish, stout, dark green ; stems covered with 
brown scales. Very easy of propagation, and well suited to 
a Wardian case, or for baskets in a conservatory. A na- 
tive of New Zealand. 
Balantium culcitum. Cushion Balantium. Caudex de- 
cumbent, slightly creeping, very thick; fronds tripin- 
nate; pinnae triangular; pinnules deeply toothed, 
pointed. The name Balantium , signifying purse , is 
given because of the peculiar form of the sori, which is 
oblong and opening as if by a lid. It is a native of 
Madeira, attains a height of 3 feet, and is a very im- 
posing-looking fern. 
The genus Cyathea is so called because of its cup- 
shaped involucre. It contains magnificent tree-ferns, 
50 feet high, of Palm-like beauty. The species intro- 
duced into England are of much smaller dimensions, but 
sufficiently magnificent. 
Cyathea Cunning hami . Cunningham’ s Cyathea . Stem 
usually covered with brown roots in the lower part, and 
with whitish scales in the upper, and surmounted by a 
noble tuft of tripinnate fronds, 5 or 6 feet in length. 
Brought from New Zealand, and there attaining a height 
of from 20 to 25 feet. 
C . Smithii . Smith’s Cythea. Stems stout, convex, 
with brown scales. Fronds bi- and tripinnate, bright 
glossy green. A handsome tree-fern, a native of New 
Zealand. 
Hymenophyllum demissum. Pendent Filmy -fern. This 
is a New Zealand brother of our minute native Hymeno - 
phyllums, and may be considered by them as a veritable 
giant, for its fronds exceed a foot in length ! They are 
bipinnate, semitransparent, and smooth. This fern 
should be carefully guarded against sunshine, grown in 
