SSS ti mq eee 
THE FERN HOUSE 79 
Cycas circinalis. The specimen in this collection is probably the oldest 
and largest cycad in this country. It is many hundreds of years old. 
It will be noticed that bulbets that look like tulip bulbs grow along 
the trunk of the plant—new plants can be grown from these bulbets. 
This is often known as the fern palm, and grows in India, Ceylon, 
Sumatra, Java, the Philippines, Madagascar, Guam, and tropical 
Africa. The nuts are a staple food in time of famine in Guam; but 
must be soaked in several waters before they can be eaten. They are 
so poisonous that the water in which they are soaked will kill cattle. 
After the poison is removed by soaking, they are dried, ground into 
meal, and made into cakes. 
Cycas revoluta, or SAGO PALM, is a native of Java. The leaves of this 
species are much used in funeral designs. The nuts are eaten in trop- 
ical countries. A kind of sago is prepared from the pith of the trunk. 
Cyperus alternifolia, or UMBRELLA PALM, is a native of Madagascar 
that belongs to the Sedge family. It is a most popular florist’s plant. 
Cyprus sp. (Johann Albrechthohe), a native of southwest Africa, is a 
species that grows to a greater height in the Conservatory than in its 
native home. 
Cyrtomium, or HOLLY FERN, a native of India and Japan, is one of the 
most popular ferns for use in fern dishes. Two species are shown here. 
Davallia, a genus of ferns from the South Sea Islands, furnishes the 
fern rhizomes used in making fern balls. The rhizomes are collected 
by collectors who penetrate the jungles in search of them; and are 
arranged in all sorts of fancy shapes. With watering these fern balls 
grow into lovely masses of ferns, needing no other food than that sup- 
plied them by air and water. 
Dicksonia, a very hardy genus of tree ferns, represented here by 4 
species, one of which will stand a little frost. 
Eichhornia, or WATER HYACINTH, the “million-dollar weed’* that ob- 
structs navigation of the St. John’s River in Florida, is a lovely 
aquatic with a delicate, orchid-like flower. 
Eletteria Cardamomum, a native of India, belongs to the Zingiberaceae, 
or Ginger family. It is cultivated in various tropical lands, and 
yields the cardamons used in medicine. 
Hedychium, or GINGER Liry, also belongs to the Zingiberaceae, This 
collection includes specimens belonging to 4 species, 3 from Asia and 
_1 from Madagascar. All bear extremely fragrant flowers. These 
plants are hardy in the South and have naturalized themselves there 
in some places. 
Hydrocleis nymphoides (Limnocharis Humboldtii), or WATER Poppy, 
is a lovely aquatic from tropical America. It bears dainty yellow 
flowers two inches or more across. 
Lemna, or DuckweEeEp, the smallest of all flowering plants, would 
cover the water like a scum if not kept confined. Two species are 
grown in the lagoon. 
Linaria Cymbalaria, or KENILWORTH Ivy, belongs to the Scrophul- 
ariaceae, the family to which our garden snapdragon belongs. This 
