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THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF CULTIVATED FERNS. 
Sori globose, exserted, produced on the apices of the venules. Special and accessory indusium nearly equal, 
forming a reflexed bilabiate calyciform cyst, containing the spore-cases. Sporangiferous receptacle elevated, 
globose. Veins pinnate ; venules simple or forked, direct, free. Fronds glabrous or pilo-glandulose, bi-tri-pinnate, 
from one to six feet high ; the fertile sometimes contracted and densely soriferous, the sori of the opposite mar- 
gins conniving. Rhizome creeping.. .This genus comprises a few free-growing species having great uniformity 
of habit, and may be considered as the herbaceous form of Dicksonia, being principally distinguished from that 
genus by having a more delicate texture, and a creeping or seandent rhizome. Fig. 75 represents a pinnule of 
S. adiantoides (nat. size) with a sorus (magn.) 
1. S. punctilobum, J. Smith (Dicksonia, Hooker ; Nephrodium, Mieliaux', Dicksonia pubescens, Schkuhr; D. 
pilosiuseula, Willdenow). — A hardy deciduous species, from North America. Fronds pilo-glandulose, lanceolate, sub- 
tripinnate, one to two feet long, very light green ; pinnules oblong, adnate, deeply pinnatifid, with oblong rather 
obtuse inciso-dentate unequal segments. Fronds lateral, adherent to a slender creeping rhizome. 
2. S. adiantoides, J. Smith (Dicksonia, Humboldt). — An ornamental evergreen stove fern, from the "West Indies, 
Brazil, and various other parts of South America. Fronds glabrous, triangularly elongate, sub-tripinnate, three 
to six feet long, bright shining green ; pinnae and pinnules triangularly elongate, acuminate, segments flat, 
oblong, slightly pinnatifid, round at the apex, decurrent, sublobate at the base on the upper side, and crenate 
at the margin. Fronds lateral, or terminal ; adherent to a creeping rhizome. 
3. S. davattioides, J. Smith (Davallia, R. Brown). — Avery neat-looking, evergreen, warm greenhouse fern, from 
New Holland. Fronds slightly pubescent, deltoid, tripinnate, deep green, two to three feet long ; pinme lan- 
ceolate; pinnules oblong, very membranous, deeply pinnatifid, with small oblong dentate segments. Fronds 
lateral ; adherent to a slender, elongated seandent rhizome. 
8. ruiiginosicm, J. Smith (Davallia, Kaulfuss). — A straggling growing evergreen, stove species, from Brazil. 
Fronds pubescent, triangularly elongate, tripinnate, three to six feet long, rather dark green ; pinnules oblong- 
acuminate, segments oblong, pinnatifid, round at the apex, largest next the rachis on the upper side, and obtusely 
dentate on the margin. Eachis and stipes of a reddish brown ; lateral, adherent to a seandent rhizome. 
BALANTIITM, Eaidfuss. — Named from lalantion, a purse; alluding to the form of the indusium. 
Sori large, nearly globose, exserted, solitary on each segment, or by contraction of the fertile portion of the 
frond forming a thyrsiform cluster. Sporangiferous receptacle oblong, and elevated. Special and accessory in- 
dusium coriaceous, nearly equal, forming a slightly reflexed oblong 
transverse bilabiate cyst. Veins pinnate ; venules simple or forked, 
direct, free. Fronds glabrous, decompound, with the ultimate seg- 
ments dentate. — This genus is established on a solitary species, a native 
of Madeira and the Azores. It is a large robust growing fern, very 
scarce in cultivation, and is remarkable for having large rather oblong 
sori and a eriniferous decumbent rhizome. It is closely allied to Dick- 
sonia, from which, however, it is distinguishable by its slightly oblong 
coriaceous indusium, and thick decumbent rhizome. Fig. 76 repre- 
sents a portion of a pinna (nat. size) with an indusium (magn.) 
1. B. Culcita, Kaulfuss (Dicksonia, Z'Heritier). — An ornamental, 
evergreen, warm greenhouse fern, from Madeira. Fronds glabrous, 
deltoid, from three to five feet long, tri-quadri-pinnate; ultimate seg- 
ments oblong, rather acute, and dentate at the margin. Fronds ter- 
minal, adherent to a thick decumbent, slightly creeping rhizome, 
which is densely clothed with hair-like scales. 
BICESONIA, Z'Heritier. — Name commemorative of James Dick- 
son, a British cryptogamist. 
Sori globose, produced on the apices of the venules. Sporangife- 
rous receptacle globose, and elevated. Indusium coriaceous, accessory one cucullate, larger than the special one, 
and forming with it a reflexed, unequal, bilabiate cyst, containing the spore-cases. Veins pinnate; venules 
simple, direct, free. — This genus contains some of the most magnificent examples of the fern tribe that are in cul- 
tivation ; they are usually denominated tree ferns. To form any adequate conception of the gracefulness of these 
plants, they must be seen in their native localities ; descriptions, however accurate, convey but a faint idea of 
their striking and noble appearance. The species we have referred to Sitolobium and Balantium, were originally 
placed in Dicksonia, and are separated from them rather on account of their habit, than from any real difference of 
fructification. Those which are retained in Dicksonia have an erect arborescent caudex, and are known by their 
indusium consisting of two distinct unequal valves. Fig. 77 represents a fertile portion of a pinna of D. ant- 
arctica (med. size), with a smaller portion showing the position of the veins and sori, and a solitary sorus (the 
two latter magn.) 
1. D. arborescens, L'Heritier (Balantium auricomum, Kaulfms). — A very handsome, evergreen, warm green- 
house fern, from St. Helena. Fronds broadly lanceolate, bipinnate, three to five feet long of a shining green ; 
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