ife*z 
-^*srii2- 
THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF CULTIVATED FERNS. 
Sori linear, parallel, unilateral, on the superior sides of the venules. Indusium plain, of the same form as the 
sori. Veins forked ; venules direct, parallel, combined at their apices by a transverse continuous marginal vein. 
Fronds simple, linear-lanceolate, from two to four feet long, and from four to eight inches broad, coriaceous, 
glabrous. — Only a solitary species belonging to this genus is at present in cultivation, and but four are described 
as belonging to it. The technical distinction which separates them from Asplenium is the presence of a continu- 
ous marginal vein connecting all the oblique venules by their apices. Fig. 50 represents the apex of a frond 
of N. vulgaris (med. size). 
1. iV. vulgaris, J. Smith (Asplenium Nidus, Linnarus). — A very handsome evergreen stove Fern, a native of 
New Holland, and according to Hooker [Sot. Mag. t. 3101), "the Peninsula of India, and Islands of the Indian 
Seas, extending to those of the Pacific Ocean, where it has been found in the Ladrone Islands, and to Oahu in the 
Sandwich group, likewise in the Mauritius." Fronds 
glabrous, simple, rigid, elongate-lanceolate, acute, three 
to four feet long, coriaceous, shining, bright green, with 
an entire margin. Rachis ebeueous, angular beneath ; 
stipes about an inch long, scaly ; terminal, adherent to 
an erect rhizome. Sori linear, close, occupying the 
upper half of the frond, and half-way between the mid- 
rib and margin. 
JH NTIGBAMMA, Presl.— Name derived from anti, 
ISiX opposite, or against, and gramma, a line ; the sori 
in the original species being ranged in opposite lines. 
Sori linear, unilateral, usually in pairs on the proxi- 
mate sides of the primary venules, at first distinct, but 
subsequently becoming confluent, indusium linear, 
the free margins of each pair conniving. Veins forked ; 
venules angularly anastomosing, or reticulated, with 
the marginal veinlets free. Fronds simple, lanceolate, 
cordate, entire or sinuose. — Half a dozen species are 
described as belonging to this genus, but only one of 
them is at present in cultivation. They have some 
affinity with Scolopendrium by having twin sori facing 
each other, those of Scolopen- 
drium being always directly 
opposite, whereas in Anti- 
gramma they are opposite or 
alternate, sometimes simple, 
and diverging from each other. 
They are easily distinguished , 
F '«- 50 - from the Scolopendriums by 
their anastomosing or reticulated venation. Fig. 51 represents a frond of A. rhisophylla 
(nat. size). 
1. A. rliizophylla, J.Smith (Asplenium, Zinnceus ; Camptosorus, Link.) — A dwarf 
evergreen frame or greenhouse species, from North America. Fronds glabrous, simple, 
cordate-elongate, eight or ten inches long, bright green ; upper part slender, filiform, 
acuminate, and rooting at the apex ; terminal, adherent to a somewhat tufted rhizome. 
(HALLIPTEEIS, Bory (Asplenium, sp., and Diplazium sp., of Authors ; Anisogonium 
(y and Digrammaria, Presl.) — Name derived from kalos, beautiful, and pteris, a fern ; 
alluding to the appearance of the fronds when in fructification. 
Sori linear, binate, produced on both sides of the venules. Indusium plane, of the 
.same form as the sori. Veins pinnate, each opposite pair of venules angularly anasto- 
mosing, the superior ones usually free. Fronds pinnate, bipinnatifid, or tripinnatifid, 
from two to six feet long, pubescent or glabrous, often viviparous. Stipes and rachis 
aculeate in some of the species. — The fundamental characters on which the genera of 
Ferns are constituted, run sometimes in two cases so nearly alike, that it is only at 
certain periods of growth or by a particular position of the venules, that the genus can 
he certainly recognised. This is clearly exhibited in Callipteris, which comes so near 
Diplazium that the only technical distinction which can be pointed out, is the anasto- 
mosing of the venules ; the spore-cases in both being chiefly bilateral, with the lower 
sori binate and the upper simple. In cases where the fronds of Callipteris have few or 
none of the venules anastomosing, they are not really distinct from Diplazium, for Callipteris 
Fig. 51. 
is known 
