fgffjf ^ ? BSSEg rplfijjj 
*i 
THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF CULTIVATED FERNS 
in every country of Europe except Spain ; likewise in Madeira and Carolina. Fronds somewhat triangular elon- 
gate, from a few inches to a foot or more high, light green ; inferior pinna? tripinnate, superior sub-tripinnate ; 
pinnules ovate-lanceolate, inciso-pinnatifid, bluntly or acutely toothed at the margin. Principal rachis winged. 
Stipes blackish with a few scattered scales at the base ; terminal, adherent to a tufted rhizome. 
50. A. acnlum, Bory. — An ornamental evergreen hardy or frame Fern, from Teneriffe. Fronds glabrous, 
triangularly-elongate, a foot long, dark green, bi-tripinnate ; pinnules oblong-lanceolate, inciso-pinnatifid, with 
acute dentate or bidentate segments. Rachis winged. Fronds terminal, adherent to a somewhat tufted rhizome. 
This is probably a more developed form of A. Adiantum-nigrum, although retained in catalogues as a distinct 
species. 
51. A. auritum, Swartz. — An evergreen stove Fern, from the West Indies. Fronds glabrous, triangularly 
elongate, one foot long, light green, pinnate ; pinna? bipartite, inferior segments cuneate, serrate at the margin, 
ultimate one pinnatifid, inciso-serrate, and cuneate at the base. Rachis winged. Fronds terminal, adherent to a 
somewhat tufted rhizome. 
52. A. planicaule, Wallich. — An ornamental evergreen stove Fern, from the East Indies. Fronds slender, 
glabrous, triangularly elongate, one to one and a half foot long, bipinnate, deep green, pinnules remote, oblong- 
cuneate, acute, one next the rachis largest, decurrent at the base, and serrate at the margin. Stipes and rachis 
dark coloured ; rachis winged. Fronds terminal, adherent to a somewhat tufted rhizome. 
§ ATHTRrcar. 
53. A. pubcscens, J. H. — An evergreen half hardy or greenhouse Fern ; its native country is supposed to be 
North America. Fronds pubescent, lanceolate, a foot and a half or two feet long, pinnate, light green ; pinna? 
lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid, with oblong-linear, rather obtuse segments. Sori short, linear, except near the apex 
of the frond, where it becomes arched. Indusium hairy. Fronds nearly all fertile, with a few scales at the base 
of the stipes ; terminal, adherent to an erect fasciculate rhizome. 
54. A. Filix fcemina, Bernhardi (Aspidium, Swartz j Polypodium, Linnmus ; Athyrium, Roth). — A very elegant, 
feathery hardy deciduous Fern, indigenous to Britain, and found throughout Europe, in Asia, Africa, and North 
America. Fronds lanceolate, one to two and a half feet long, light green, bipinnate ; pinnae linear lanceolate ; 
pinnules linear-oblong, acute, inciso-serrate, one next the rachis largest, with bi- or tri-dentate segments. Stipes 
scaly at the base, with a few scattered on the rachis. Sori oblong, or reniform, especially the lower ones ; 
indusium of the same shape as the sori, and divided at the free margin into capillary segments. Fronds terminal, 
adherent to a thick somewhat creeping rhizome. 
This is the most variable Fern in cultivation. It bears oblong, or reniform, or arched sori, the latter produced 
principally on the lower parts of the pinnules, and these being analogous to those of Aspidiea?, some authors have 
placed it in that genus ; but as the Aspidiea? are characterized by having punctiform, rarely oblong sori, never 
linear, as they mostly are in this species, nor lateral, as they always are here, it more closely agrees with the 
Aspleniea?. But it is not only variable in its primary characters, its outline, size, division, and density, are equally 
variable, and several widely-different forms, which are distinguished as varieties, are so totally unlike the type, 
that some of them may almost be regarded as distinct species. 
A. Filix fcemina $ convcxum (Athyrium rhseticum, Roth). — Fronds lanceolate, bipinnate, semi-erect, one to two 
feet long, pale green ; pinna? linear-lanceolate ; pinnules oblong-linear, very narrow, convex, with deflexed margins, 
bluntly toothed. Stipes scaly at the base, with some scattered on the rachis. Fronds terminal, adherent to a 
thick, short, somewhat tufted rhizome. 
A. Filix fcemina y latifolium (Athyriurn latifolium, Presl ? Babington MSS. !) — Fronds elongate-lanceolate, 
bipinnate, three or four feet high, dark green ; pinna? linear-lanceolate ; pinnules ovate, flat, crowded, laciniate, 
with oblong-toothed lobes. Stipes and lower part of the rachis scaly. Sori distinct, in two rows, lunate. Found 
near Keswick by Miss "Wright. 
A. Filix fcemina 5 multifulum. — Fronds glabrous, ovate-lanceolate, one and a half foot long, semi-erect, light 
green ; pinna? lanceolate, with their apices as well as the apex of the frond, multifid, or tasselled. This is a very 
elegant variety, retaining its peculiar character, constant in cultivation. Sori somewhat crowded throughout the 
whole frond. Found in Ireland by Mr. D. Moore, who informs us that it comes true from the spores. 
A. Filix fcemina c ramosum. — Fronds slender, glabrous, rather erect, one foot high, dull green, divided at the 
apex into numerous branching narrow rachiform segments ; pinna? small, unequal, and irregularly lacerated, with 
a blunt dentate margin. Sori small, chiefly occupying the pinna?, and not the rachiform segments. This is a 
miserable-looking monstrosity, the fronds always appearing as if starved or stunted, but it is constant under culti- 
vation. Found in Ireland by Dr. <T. T. Mackay. 
A. Filix fcemina £ crispum. — Fronds glabrous, semi-erect, about a foot long, without any defined form, bright 
green, crisped ; the rachis irregularly and unequally branched, with the apex of the divisions densely tufted or 
tasselled. Sori small, scattered through the whole under surface. This is the most distinct of all the varieties, 
and is constant ; the fronds being rather leafy, and growing in a dense mass, have the appearance of a tuft of 
curled parsley. It was first discovered by Mr. A. Smith on the Hill Orah, hi the county Antrim, and subsequently 
by Sir W. C. Trevelyan in Braemar. 
55. A. Michauxii, Sprengel (J?ephrodium Filix fcemina, Michaux). — A fragile hardy deciduous Fern, from North |j» 
America. Fronds glabrous, ovate-lanceolate, from two to two and a half feet long, ereetish, deep green, bi-tri- (ft 
■7*7?' 5^g gj, lrn 
"o^EH 
*N 
