ments : hence pinnate-pinnatifid; but the lowermost pinnee each 
throw out a pinna-like branch on the posterior or hindmost side, 
and this renders them pedately pinnate-pinnatifid. Sometimes, 
in vigorous plants, the two or three lowermost pairs of pinnae 
produce the posterior branch. The segments are upwards of an 
inch in length, bluntly linear-oblong and somewhat falcate in 
outline, the terminal one extending into a longish narrow tail¬ 
like point. Along the midrib or costa of these segments, on 
the upper side, is produced a series of little spinulose points. 
The fructification is marginal as in other species of Pteris. 
The chief beauty of this new Fern consists in its markings, 
which are very bold and effective, and render it worth intro¬ 
duction to even the most select collection of stove Ferns. The 
central whitish stripe is produced by the base of each segment, 
for a quarter of an inch or more of its length, being of a sil¬ 
very-grey instead of green like the rest of the frond, and this 
occurring on both sides of the midrib or rachis, the two pale- 
coloured portions blend together into a longitudinal white stripe 
about three-fourths of an inch in breadth. 
In the form of its fronds and of their parts, and in some other 
technical peculiarities, this Fern quite agrees with a small group 
represented by P. qucidriaurita; and there can be no doubt, it 
belongs to those enlarged forms, named pyrojyhylla, related to 
this species, which some botanists unite with it, but which may, 
we think, be fairly kept distinct on account of their size. In 
a botanical point of view, our plant is a variegated variety of 
P. jyyrophylla , but for all garden purposes the name P. argyrcsa 
or Silver-variegated Pteris will suffice. 
This interesting species, or variety, was introduced from Cen¬ 
tral India by Messrs. Veitch and Son, of the Exeter and Chelsea 
Nurseries, and we are indebted to Messrs. Yeitch for the oppor¬ 
tunity of figuring it. It was exhibited during the past sum¬ 
mer, before the Floral Committee of the Horticultural Society, 
and was awarded a first class certificate of merit. It has also 
received a similar award from the Royal Botanic Society. 
The plant is a free-growing stove Fern, requiring a warm 
moist atmosphere, and may be cultivated in a soil of turfy peat 
mixed with small proportions in bulk of loam and sand. 
