ALLOSORUS CRISPUS 
ALLOSORUS CRISPUS (Тнк PARSLEY FERN). 
(Plate 111) 
The Parsley Fern is popularly so called from its resemblance, 
to some extent, to the familiar parsley of our kitchen gardens, a 
resemblance accentuated by its growing in dense patches of similar 
size. Їп its mountain habitats, for it is truly a mountain Fern, 
it is found in great profusion, mainly on the loose debris weathered 
down from above on the talus of steep gradients, whence, by virtue 
of scattered spores, it will also invade the chinks and crevices oÍ 
the loose stone dykes common to such localities, and practically 
monopolize them. Its somewhat triangular fronds, which may 
reach nearly a foot in length, are three or 
four times divided, and vary in form accord- 
ing as they are barren or fertile. Fig. 21 
shows a portion of a fertile frond of natural 
size, and Fig. 22 shows the diversity of form 
which the barren fronds are capable of dis- | 
playing even in one and the same plant. 
As regards culture, ordinary pot or pan 
culture, or simply planting in the open on 
the flat, is little likely to succeed. Anyone 
collecting the Fern in its native habitat, on 
the slopes of loose, stony material, weathered 
down from above, will note that season after 
season the plant is apt to be buried by the & 
sliding debris, and, in fact, has been so re- 
peatedly, and that season after season the 
new fronds have pushed their way to the 
light, and rooted higher up to fit. Soil 
proper there is hardly any under such con- 
ditions, and however moist the rubble may р, E > 
be it is well drained.: Studying these pecu- Pap cue m 
liarities, we have succeeded in maintaining the Parsley Fern in 
good condition for years, in a London garden, in this way. Digging 
a hole about a foot deep in a suitable position, we have filled this 
with rough brown peat and loam in equal parts, and well mixed 
with coarse sand and gravel. Upon this we have spread the matted 
root mass of the Fern, with its growing end towards the north ; 
we have then buried it bodily with a spadeful of gravel, so that it 
was entirely covered to the depth of a couple of inches. Over the 
root mass, ie. on the south side, we have then dumped a large 
brick burr, about two feet high, and nearly as wide, thus leaving 
the growing end of the Fern free, save of the gravel. Drenching 
the whole with water, we have then left the plant to its own 











