78 GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY 
one of the strongest growing plants in the Conservatory, and is valued 
both for its foliage and for its fragrant, orchid-like flowers which it 
bears in spikes of 15 to 20, during May. 
Alsophila australis, a native of Australia and Tasmania, is a very 
choice tree fern. The specimen shown here is very old and has attained 
its full size. 
Ardisia crenulata, is a native of the East Indies or of China, that be- 
long to the Myrsinaceae, a family with no local representatives. The 
plant is a popular one at Christmas time because of its drooping clusters 
of coral-red berries. It has no place in this house; but came up of its 
own accord at the edge of the walk, and has been allowed to remain 
undisturbed. 
Asplenium bulbiferum, a fern from Africa and Australia, is peculiar 
for the tiny bulbets along the edges of certain fronds. New ferns 
develop from these bulbets while they are still attached to the leaf 
of the parent plant. 
Asplenium Nidus (A. Nidus-avis), or Birp’s Nest FERN, is one of the 
largest and showiest ferns in the collection, of interest for the peculiar 
nest-like arrangement of the fronds. 
Blechnum orientale, is a tree fern that is here developing a colony 
about itself as it does in its native home. The young plants are grow- 
ing from runners, and are often supposed by visitors to be ferns instead 
of juvenile tree ferns. 
Camptosorus rhizophyllus, or WALKING FERN, is an interesting species 
represented in our local flora. Wherever the tip of a frond touches 
the ground, it may root and form a new plant, thus taking a step 
forward. 
Ceratopteris pteridoides, is a species representing the only truly aquatic 
plants among ferns. 
Cibotium. This collection contains representatives of three exceedingly 
rare species of this tree fern. Occasionally florists sell these tree ferns 
in their juvenile state as ferns. 
Cycadaceae, or Cycad family. The cycads are among the oldest 
known plants. Specimens are found in fossils of the early Mesozoic, 
and the geological epoch when they were most abundant is some- 
times known as the “Age of Cycads.” Cycads are an intermediate 
link between pines and palms. All of them bear a cone-shaped fruit. 
The cones of many species contain nuts that form an important article 
of food in their native lands. The leaves are used in many countries 
to decorate altars and temples. With us their chief use is in funeral 
designs. There are few collections of cycads in existence. This is a 
very good collection, comprising specimens representing the genera 
Bowenia, Ceratozamia, Cycas, Dioon, Macrozamia, Stangeria, and 
Zamia. Some of the specimens of Dioon shown here are unusually 
fine. This genus is said to be the closest to the fossil forms of any liv- 
ing representatives of the family. The seeds are the size of Spanish 
chestnuts, and are eaten by the Mexicans. Two other cycads of espe- 
cial interest are: 
