56 
BRITISH FERNS. 
the fronds but with the forked segments bending and 
arching in every direction ; the sori cover the under part 
of the segments ; the barren fronds are round; or ex- 
panded horizontally; few in number; lying obliquely 
round the towering tuft of fruitful fronds. Found upon 
trees in the warmer climates of Australia. 
Platy cerium grande . Noble Platy cerium. Barren fronds 
very large and spreading; at first kidney* shaped; but ex- 
panding into deeply cut lobes ; the fertile fronds are 
smaller; but of the same character; and like those of the 
Blechnum boreale, they die away after ripening the 
spores; while the barren ones continue to flourish and 
enlarge year after year. Their form resembles that of 
some of the red palmate seaweeds; more than any other 
type of ferns. It is a native of India and New Holland. 
The genus Acrostichum derives its name from Greek 
words; meaning the commencement of a verse; and re- 
fers to the finely cut foliage. It is a group of noble 
tropical ferns; and most of the species attain a height of 
5 or 6 feet. 
Acrostichum aureum. Golden Acrostichum. Caudex 
erect; from 2 to 3 feet high ; fertile fronds erect ; barren 
fronds drooping; with thin light green pinnae and leaf- 
lets. It is found in morasses in the tropics; and re- 
quires a heat of 80° in summer. 
Blechnum australe. Southern Hard-fern. Fronds pin- 
nate; about a foot long ; pinnae sessile; sickle-shaped; 
pointed ; the end one is entire and lengthened out into 
a long point. A handsome fern; easy of cultivation; im- 
ported from the Cape. 
Blechnum Brasiliense. Brazilian Hard-fern. Caudex 
erect; 2 feet high ; fronds pinnate or pinnatifid ; the 
leaflets or segments; each measuring from 7 to 8 inches ; 
