May 4. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
77 
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Qolden Chain; orange colour, with large flower. 
Wellington Hero; fine golden-yellow; very shrubby, | 
and a free bloom T. Appleby. 
(TV) he continued .) 
STOVE FERNS. 
(Continued from page 
LOMARIA. 
A large genus of Ferns whose geographical distribu¬ 
tion embraces almost every country and climate in the 
world. The well known Blechnum spicant of this 
country, so common at the foot of rocks in Derbyshire, 
belongs to this genus, under the name of Lomaria 
spicant. Any person acquainted with this Fern may 
have a good idea of the whole genus. Lotnaria is 
closely allied to Blechnum and Acrosticlium, differing 
from both in its contracted fertile fronds, and long, 
narrow seed-cases. As the genus is so large, a descrip¬ 
tion of every stove species would occupy too much space, 
and, probably, tire the patience of many of our readers, 
especially such as do not care for Ferns, or have not the 
convenience to grow them. Hence, I shall only notice 
fully three of the best and most interesting. 
L. attenuata (Thin-leaved).—A pinnated, interesting 
Fern, from the Mauritius; barren fronds, lance-shaped, 
with the edge of the piunre quite entire, growing about 
a foot high. Fertile fronds pinnate, growing a foot high 
in the centre of the others. Both kinds are placed on 
the top of a slender stem or caudex. I have had plants 
of this species with a stem more than a foot high. The 
whole plant was then very interesting, looking like a 
bird’s-nest set upon a slender stump. Increased by i 
offsets, which are often produced on the stem. A I 
suitable Fern for small collections. 
L. onocleotdes (Onoclea-likc).—An interesting Fern, 
found in most of the West Indian islands. Barren 
fronds, oval, lance-shaped, pinnate; the wings, or pinnae, 
thick and leathery ; wavy at the edges, and roundly cut 
at the margin towards the top of the loaves. Seed¬ 
bearing fronds pinnate, also the wings, or pinnae, are 
narrow and contracted ; stems of the leaves scaly. The 
root-stock is creeping; hence it may bo increased by 
division. The whole plant seldom exceeds a foot in 
height, therefore is is a desirable species for a small 
collection. 
L. or.ANDULtFERA (Gland-bearing).—A native of Java; 
introduced lately from continental gardens. Barren 
fronds pinnate, attaining two feet in length; pinnae of 
a lengthened oblong shape, leathery; the stem of each 
wing is petiolated, and a gland may be seen on the 
upper side at the bar of each petiole; fertile fronds 
pinnate. Very rare; increased by seeds only. 
MENISCIUM 
A genus of Ferns remarkable for their regular 
veining. So beautiful are those veins arranged, that they 
form numerous regularly disposed rectilinear parallelo¬ 
grams, and the fructification is arranged in the form of a 
crescent. Hence its name, from meniskos, a crescent. 
Upon this latter character the genus is formed. 
M. p.u.ustre (Marsh).—A South American Fern, of 
great beauty, though rather a large one, requiring , 
considerable space to grow it well. Fronds pinnate, I 
growing four feet high; pinna), or wing, eight inches 
long. When of full size every frond is fertile. The seed- 
vessels are regularly disposed between the veins in 
crescent-shape. There are, sometimes, small buds 
formed at the base of the pinnae, aud by these, as well 
as by dividing the creeping rhizoma, the species may 
be increased. I have grown this Fern to even a larger 
size than indicated above, by potting it frequently 
(that is every three months), in rough sandy peat, and 
half-decayed leaves pressed clo3e. It is a fine Fern, 
and worthy of being grown wherever there is room. 
M. simplex (Simple-fronded).—A rare dwarf Fern, 
from the warmer parts of China. Fronds simple, 
growing not more than a foot long; beautifully veined, 
of an elliptic shape. It is in cultivation only as yet at 
Kew; but when rendered more common, by increasing 
it, by dividing its creeping rhizoma, should be in every 
collection, however small. 
NEOTTOPTERIS. 
A noble genus of Ferns, formed by Mr. Smith, of Kew, 
out of Asplenium, from which genus it differs by the 
continuous marginal vein running on the edge of every 
leaf or frond, connecting or binding, as it were, all the 
cross veins at their extreme points. The name is 
derived from neottia, a bird’s-nest; hence it is commonly 
called the Bird’s-nest Fern ; the leaves being arranged 
circularly around the top of the tufted root-stalk, giving 
it a fanciful similarity to a bird’s-nest. 
N. vulgaris (Common).—A Fern rather widely dis¬ 
tributed, it having been found in India, the Mauritius, 
and the tropical parts of New Holland, besides on 
several islands in the Indian seas. Fronds simple, 
growing three or four feet high ; stems black, and 
squared on the under side. Seed-vessels large, placed in 
lines about half-way between the midrib and the 
margin, and filling only the upper part of the frond. 
A handsome Fern, even when small, and increases freely 
by seeds. 
N E PH ROD 1U M. 
A rather large assemblage of Ferns, separated from 
Aspidium by the foreign and learned botanist, Mr. 
Schott. Name derived from Nephros, a kidney, alluding 
to the form of the seed-vessels. 
N. multilineatum (Many-lined).—The arrangement 
of the veius of this beautiful Fern is extremely elegant, 
quite as much so as in Meniscium. Fronds pinnate, 
growing two feet high, and of a lively green colour; 
pinna), or wings, lance-shaped, and pointed with a 
deeply-notched margin ; seed-vessels kidney-shaped. 
A beautiful Fern, from Ceylon; and increases freely by 
dividing the creeping rhizoma. 
N. moli.e (Soft).—Every collector is almost certain 
to have this very common Fern. It used to be quite a 
weed with me in the Orchid-house, coming up from seed 
abundantly in almost every pot, aud even on the walls, 
between the bricks; yet it is a very fine Fern, tbe 
fructification is so free and lovely. Fronds covered 
with soft wool; hence its specific name; and the cover 
of the seed-cases is very hairy and of a bluish colour. 
The plant grows about two feet high. 
N. terminal's (Ending).—An East Indian Fern, of 
considerable beauty. The leaves, or pinna), end abruptly; 
hence its specific name. It is somewhat similar to 
the last species, but is not so densely clothed with 
woolly hairs. Fronds pinnate, growing ten feet high. 
Increased by division. 
The rest of the species cultivated in Great Britain 
are 
X. articulatum (Jointed) ; N. Hooherii (Sir W. 
Hooker's); raised among some Orchids imported to the 
Botanic Garden, Sheffield ; N. unituin (Joined). 
NIPHOBOLUS. 
A very pretty, dwarf, useful genus of Terns. The 
name is derived from nipholos, covered with snow, the 
fronds being covered with white, starry clusters of short 
hairs. I have used these Ferns much to ornament 
rustic rockwork in the stove, and grown them in rustic 
baskets, vases, &c., with the happiest effect. It is a very 
distinct genus, and may be known at onco by its 
simple fronds and star-like clusters ot short hairs. 
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