COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
April 3. 
in winter, plants that are growing in wet soil at night 
have suffered, while those comparatively dry have 
escaped. R. Fish. 
HARDY FERNS. 
(Continued from Vol. XIII., paye 434.) 
LASTRA2A. 
A genus of Ferns established by that clever botanist 
Pnesl, out of Aspidium and Nephrodium, and the justice 
of his selection is now so universally acknowledged that 
few cultivatiors object to it. The name in most catalogues 
is now adopted, and I advise all the readers of The 
Cottage Gardener to change their labels (if not 
already done), for this name. The grand characteristics 
of the genus consist in forked, or pinnate, free veins on 
the leaves, and kidney-shaped covers on the seed-vessels. 
These, combined with the peculiar habit of the species, 
constitute the generic character. 
LASTR.EA CRISTATA (Crested). 
A British Fern, growing two feet high. Native also 
of various parts of Europe, and also of North America; 
very hardy and deciduous. Fronds pinnate, lance-shaped; 
pinnae distant, deeply-cut and heart-shaped at the base. 
Seed-vessels placed in rows, on each side of the mid rib, 
midway from the margin. Stem scaly; scales broad. 
Root-stock slowly creeping, increased by division. A 
free-growing species in almost any situation, and well 
worthy of general cultivation. 
LASTR.EA DILATATA (Enlarged-crested). 
This handsome Fern decorates the hedge-banks of 
many a pleasant country lane in Britain. I have found 
it plentifully in shady lanes about Macclesfield, in 
Cheshire; a part of England rich in Ferns. In one 
particular lane I counted ten species of these pleasing 
plants in twenty yards. Fronds, in favourable spots, 
fully three feet long, dark green, oval lance-shaped, bi- 
pinnate, and graceful, bending in arch-like manner. 
Leaves pinnate, with thorny lobes. Seed-vessels mediate, 
that is, in rows at equal distances from the mid-rib and 
the margin. Seed-vessel covers fringed. Stems very 
scaly and dark-coloured in the centre. Increased by 
dividing the slow-creeping root-stock. 
LASTRdEA DECURRENS (Decuiirent). 
It is seldom that we have to record a Fern from that 
distant country China. This is one better known as 
Polypodium decursive-pinnatim. Mr. John Smith, of 
Kew, had very correctly placed it in this genus, under 
this appropriate specific name. It is somewhat tender, 
hut will live in the open air if covei-ed with leaves during 
severe frost. Fronds a foot high, rather drooping, lance¬ 
shaped, and pinnate, light, beautiful green; pinnae 
without stalks, sinuated and decurrent, winging the leaf- 
stem. Seed-vessels at the end of each vein. Stem 
covered with chatty scales. Increased by dividing 
the tufted rhizomas. This Fern forces beautifully I 
have it now, March 24th, with beautiful, light green 
fronds, six inches high, growing circularly round the 
root-stock, forming a kind of hollow like a bird’s nest. 
LASTR/EA FELIX-MAS (Male Fern). 
This Fern is the most common of any, excepting the 
common Brake, throughout Britain and all the four 
quarters of the globe. Jt will grow in almost any soil 
aud situation, but thrives best in shady, moist woods. I 
have seen it in Ireland in such a situation, five feet 
9 
high, forming quite a hush. Fronds hipinnate; pinnae 
narrow and lance-shaped, deeply cut at the edges. Seed- 
vessels mediate. 
LASTRDEA FELTX-MAS CRISTATA. 
This is a most beautiful variety, with the ends of each 
frond and pinnae most beautifully tasselled. It was 
originally found wild in Cornwall, and has been kept by 
division ever since in cultivation. I consider it one of 
the most beautiful and elegant of all hardy herns in 
cultivation. 
LASTR/EA GOLDIANA (Goldin’s). 
This handsome, scarce Fern is a North American one. 
1 have only seen two plants of it, one in the Glasnevin 
Botanic Garden, Dublin, and the other in the Botanic 
Garden at Birmingham. Fronds two feet high, broadly 
lance-shaped, half of the frond twice-cut, the other half 
of the frond pinnate ; pinna? broad lance-shaped, deeply 
cut, and serrate at the margin. Stems scaly. This is a 
very handsome, noble Fern, but slow to increase. A 
young plant is sometimes produced on one side of the 
i root-stock, and as soon as it has roots belonging to it, it 
! may be carefully divided oft’, potted, and kept in a cold 
frame for a few weeks, until it is established. 
LASTR.EA MARGINAL1S (Margined). 
This is also a North American hardy Fern, and is • 
very handsome, growing two feet high. Fronds bipinnate 
throughout, lance-shaped, and a peculiar colour, greyish- 
green, with a shade of blue, when seen in strong sunshine; 
pinnae sharp pointed and oblong; leaves oval, blunt- 
ended, the largest next to the stem, and notched on the 
edge. Stem chatty. Seed-vessels placed on the margin. 
Root-stock tufted and very large. This rare Fern is very 
slow to increase except by seed. 
LASTR/EA NOVEBARACENSIS (New York). 
As its name imports, this Fern is from North America, 
growing about a foot high. Fronds very slender, covered 
with short hairs, lance-sliaped, and pinnated; pinnae 
lance-shaped, without stems, deeply divided; leaves 
narrow. Seed-vessels mediate. Root-stock creeping. 
Easily increased by division; hence, this pretty, dwarf 
Fern is by no means rare. 
LASTR/EA OREOPTERIS (Mountain Fern). 
A pretty British species, with an agreeable perfume. 
Fronds two feet high, pinnate, and the pinnae beautifully 
divided into oblong flat segments. Seed-vessels near 
the margin. Stem short and chaffy. Rootstock tufted; 
hence it is slow of increase. This is one of our 
handsomest Ferns, and is found pretty plentiful in high 
situations, on the shady sides of hills. 
LASTR.EA RECURVA (Bent-back). 
Mr. Watson names this Lastrea faniseed', it is 
generally known by Mr. Newman’s name, reeurva. It 
is a native of this country, and is a neat, compact, ever¬ 
green, hardy Fern. I have several plants of it that 
have been fully exposed in pots unplunged during this 
last hard winter, and the leaves, or fronds, are now quite 
fresh and green. Fronds triangular, tripinnate, a foot 
high, and of a lively green. Examined with a good 
magnifier, the underside will be seen covered with glands. 
Leaves oblong, curved upwards, with spiny divisions. 
Seed-vessels mediate; stems and ribs of the leaves 
covered with narrow scales. Root-stock tufted; hence it 
is slow of increase; but old, large plants have many 
heads, or tufts, and by dividing these a plant may be 
made into several. 
