10 
ADIANTUM. 
a pale, semi-transparent, bright green colour, and having 
doubly-branched veins. The fructification forms a kind 
of margin to the lobes of the fertile leaflets, and when 
perfect, in July, becomes of a deep brown, as shown on 
the magnified leaflet in our drawing. 
This Fern is of rare occurrence in this country, being 
found chiefly in our mildest and moistest districts, 
Devon, Cornwall, South Wales, and Ireland. It has 
been found, however, on the Islands of Arran, and on 
the banks of the Carron, in Scotland. Much more 
abundantly does it occur in the warmer countries of 
Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, and North America. 
Culture. —Although a native of Great Britain, yet it 
is only found here in moist, sheltered situations; and, 
therefore, it is useless to attempt to grow it either upon 
ordinary rocltwork or borders, in the open air. It 
requires to be cultivated under glass in a moist, moder¬ 
ately warm air. It is generally kept as a pot plant in 
the frame, greenhouse, or moist stove. In the latter it 
grows and flourishes marvellously. In its wild state, 
the little plant may be found growing from three to six 
inches in height, whilst in the moist, shady part of the 
stove it is to be seen varying from six to twelve inches, 
forming one of the most beautiful and interesting of 
evergreens all the year round. 
It is said, by Mr. Houlston and Mr. Moore, that in 
the warmer climate of the south of Europe, the Channel 
Islands, and Madeira, this Fern attains the height of 
eighteen inches, and is then called Adiantum Moritzi- 
anum; but our native plant, if cultivated in a moist 
