Ferns and Selaginellas 
The use of Ferns in securing landscape effects is limited to certain special conditions. When 
used on the cool, shady sides of the building, they can be interplanted with Sago Palms, Dracenas, 
and plants of like character to good effect. However, they can be much more effectively used as 
ground-cover in low, damp woods, along little streamlets, and so on, where they appear to good 
advantage and in their proper setting. The drooping Nephrolepis and Polypodium can be used 
to telling effect by planting in the boots of tall palms, where they will flourish. For decorative 
use, ferns are being used more and more for special purposes as greenhouse or home specimens in 
tubs, in fern-dishes on the table, and are especially desirable in window and porch-boxes where 
they can be used with telling effect. In house culture, they should be given some sunlight because 
the diffused lighting inside is so weak that the fronds are likely to be thin and drawn. The soil 
used should be rather light with leaf-mold or very old, rotted manure. Too much manure or 
concentrated fertilizer is injurious, though some sorts will be benefitted with considerable added as 
top dressing. Wooden tubs, if not too large for the specimens, are always much superior to earthen 
pots or other receptacles. 
ADIANTIUM [1] farleyense gloriosa. Glory Fem. 
A very decorative type of the Maidenhair Fem 
with much broader and heavier fronds and the 
individual pinnae more undulate and deeply cut. 
The new growth sometimes shows a decided pink 
tinge. 
A. cuneatum. Splendid for cut flowers and a heavy 
producer. No fernery should be without it. 
A. O’Brienii. Maidenhair Fern. While there are a 
number of the maidenhair ferns this type seems 
especially adapted to growing in Florida and is 
splendid for cutting. Resembles the old A. hybri- 
dum very much but has larger pinnae and more 
fronds. 
ALSOPHILA [2] australis. Australian Tree Fern. 
One of the strongest growing of the tree fern fam¬ 
ily, this type is more suited to Florida than any 
other. Stems are thick, covered with a brownish 
hair, and leaves are quite broad and graceful. This 
will reach a height of ten or more feet with 
fronds 6 or more feet long and will stand some 
cold but not freezing. 
ASPLENIUM [3] Nidus-Avis. Bird’s Nest Fern. A 
very distinctive fern with broad bright green 
leaves with undulate margins; erect in habit, 
sometimes reaching a height of four feet with a 
leaf spread of eight inches or more. Suitable as 
a table fern when small, this makes a magifi- 
cent tub specimen when fully grown. 
BLECHNUM [4] serrulatum. One of our handsome 
native ferns with broad pinnate leaves two or 
more feet long and twelve to fifteen inches wide. 
A splendid fern for naturalistic and pool plant¬ 
ings. 
CERATOPTERIS [5] pterldoides. Water Fern. A 
lovely water fern that will grow as a floating 
plant in pools. The large deeply lobed leaves lie 
flat on the water while the seed leaves are held 
erect and are much divided. Spreads by tiny 
plants produced along the edges of the old leaves. 
A handsome pool subject and to be preferred to 
Water Hyacinth since it may be kept within 
bounds more easily. 
CIBOTIUM [6] Barometz. Sub-tropical. Resembles 
Tree Fern but does not form trunk. 
C. Schiedel. Sub-tropical. Handsome and very deco¬ 
rative pot specimen. Requires same treatment as 
Boston Ferns. 
LYGODIUM [7] scandens. Climbing Fern. A true 
fern that climbs like a vine, making it an ideal 
Ferns for Window Boxes and Foundation 
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