CULTIVATION IN HOTHOUSES. 
57 
the fronds are 4 feet long. A noble species, that should 
never be absent from a fern-house where there is plenty 
of room. 
Blechnum gracile. Graceful Hard-fern . Another Bra- 
zilian species, which has the extra recommendation of 
being evergreen, but its fronds only attain the length of 
1 foot ; the stems are crimson in youth, and become 
darker in age, they are scaly at the base ; the leaflets are 
long, narrow and pointed, nine on each frond. 
Blechnum lanceolum . Small lance-headed Hard-fern. 
Fronds simple, lance-shaped, dwarf, evergreen, shining, 
about 6 inches long; sori linear; veins forked. Also a 
Brazilian fern. 
Blechnum orientale. Eastern Hard-fern . Fronds thick, 
leathery, pinnate, 3-4 feet high. It is still scarce. A 
native of the West Indies. 
Blechnum polypodioides. Poly podium-like Hard-fern. 
Fronds pinnate, linear, tapering elegantly towards the 
point. A native of Mexico and Brazil. 
Blechnum trifoliatum. Three-leaved Hard-fern. Fronds 
simple or divided into three segments, or even into five; 
from 6-8 inches long, of a full green colour, and crimson 
stem and rachis. Some horticulturists make three species 
of this, calling the simple variety longifolium , the 3 -cleft 
one trifoliatum, and the 5-cleft pinnatum. All the va- 
rieties are found in Brazil. 
Adiantum curvatum . Crescent-leaved Maiden-hair. It 
has a naked stem and fan-shaped outline; its leaflets are 
crescent- shaped, and thickly placed on the secondary 
rachis ; it will grow to the height of 2 feet, and require 
plenty of room for its roots. It is a Brazilian species. 
Adiantum affine. Of similar growth, but with fewer 
pinnse. A native of New Zealand. 
