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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
red, with, every conceivable tint between. Of Palms we have but 
few examples, but many of them are of imposing appearance. 
These are chiefly confined to the eastern colonies. Even in 
the desert interior, however, travellers have occasionally come 
across stately species which mark out veritable oases. 
Of Orchiclece we possess hardly 300 species, many of them 
exhibiting the grotesque but nevertheless superb beauty which 
characterises this order. We have about half a hundred genera, 
many of which, however, are here represented by a single species. 
Of these exquisitely beautiful plants the genera possessing most 
species are Dendrobium , Prasojphyllum, Caladenict, Pterostylis 
(often with sensitive labellum and greenish flowers), Thelymitra, 
Sarcochilus , and JDiuris , the pretty little “ double - tailed 
Orchids.” Many of these are small but of rare and delicate 
beauty and rich perfume. Of Ferns we can boast not only a 
number of species, but large areas in our enchanting “ fern- 
gullies,” profusely covered with the exuberant growth of many 
handsome and stately as well as delicate varieties. Fern-trees 
of graceful palm-like habit grow in great profusion in humid 
forest glens, and represent the genera A Isophila, Dicksonia, and 
Cyathea, while the dwarf but massive trunk of our Osmunda 
( Todea ) barbara, endemic to the southern part of the eastern 
hemisphere, has frequently been known to attain a weight 
of considerably over a ton. 
The lofty stems of some of our Fern-trees are clothed with 
a living mass of verdure, consisting of filmy and other tender 
ferns, representing the genera Trichomanes and Hymenophylhim, 
amongst which the cosmopolitan Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense 
may frequently be seen. Draping also the spongy trunks of 
these graceful Tree-ferns are exquisite examples of the genera 
Tolypodium , Aspidium, Gleichenia, and others. In my “ Census 
of Plants of the Cape Otway Forest ” I have recorded from that 
romantic region forty-three species of these interesting and 
shade-loving plants, all of which are well worthy of cultivation. 
An Australian fern-gully presents a truly magnificent sight. 
Overhead the tops of gigantic Eucalypts form an interlaced 
canopy and filter the rays of the summer sun. Beneath these 
the undergrowth forms another and a denser canopy. This 
shelters the majestic palm-like tree ferns, whose graceful feathery 
fronds form again a grateful shade fpr humbler and more tender 
