FIG. 173. ASPLENIUM RADICANS.
A. radicans (rooting). cau. erect, sub-arborescent. sti. 1ft. to 2ft. long, tufted. fronds 3ft. to 5ft. long, 2ft. to 3ft. broad, deltoid; lower pinnæ 12in. to 18in. long, 6in. to 8in. broad; pinnules lanceolate, sessile, the upper ones entire, lower ones 3in. to 4in. long, ¾in. to 1in. broad, with blunt lobes, ¼in. broad, reaching about half way down to the rachis. Lower sori sometimes ¼in. long. Tropical America. A very variable species. SYNS. A. giganteum, Diplazium radicans, D. umbrosum, &c. See Fig. 173.
A. refractum (refracted). A variety of A. fontanum.
A. resectum (cut or pared).* sti. scattered, 4in. to 8in. long. fronds 6in. to 15in. long, 2in. to 4in. broad, lanceolate-oblong, with ten to thirty sub-sessile horizontal pinnæ on each side, which are 1in. to 3in. long, ¼in. to ½in. broad, almost dimidiate, the point bluntish, all except the truncate part crenate, the upper half at the base narrowed nearly at a right angle. sori not reaching either the midrib or edge. India, &c., widely distributed, 1820. Greenhouse species.
A. rhizophorum (root-bearing).* sti. tufted, 4in. to 8in. long. fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 6in. broad, elongated, and rooting at the apex; pinnæ twelve to thirty on each side, sub-sessile, 1½in. to 2in. long, about ½in. broad, inciso-dentate throughout; the two sides unequal, the upper one auricled and narrowed, the lower one obliquely cuneate. sori not reaching either to the edge or midrib. Tropical America. A very variable stove species. A. r. rachirhizon, has distinctly separated oblong-rhomboidal pinnules, again deeply cut into narrow segments.
A. rhizophyllum (leaf-rooting). sti. tufted, 2in. to 6in. long. fronds 6in. to 12in. long, 1½in. to 2in. broad, cut down into numerous close-placed horizontal pinnæ on each side; central ones 1in. long, ¼in. to ⅜in. broad, cut down throughout nearly to the centre into simple or forked erecto-patent pinnules, the lowest on the under side suppressed. sori solitary, sub-marginal. A. r. myriophyllum is a variety with broader fronds; central pinnæ 1½in. long, with lower pinnules cut down into several simple or forked linear segments. North America, &c., 1680. Both handsome greenhouse kinds.
A. rutæfolium (Rue-leaved).* sti. tufted, 4in. to 9in. long. fronds 6in. to 15in. long, 2in. to 4in. broad, ovate deltoid, with twelve to twenty pinnæ on each side, the lowest sub-deltoid, 2in. or more long, cut down to the rachis into numerous erecto-patent distant pinnules on each side, the lowest on the upper side again cut down into erecto-patent linear segments. sori small, marginal. Cape Colony. A beautiful greenhouse species. SYNS. A. prolongatum and Darea rutæfolia.
A. Ruta-muraria (Wall-rue).* sti. tufted, 2in. to 4in. long. fronds 1in. to 2in. long, about 1in. broad, deltoid, cut down to the rachis into a few pinnæ on each side, the lower ones again cut down into spathulato-cuneate pinnules, which are serrated round the outer edge. sori copious. Great Britain, and almost worldwide in its distribution. Hardy species. This requires a well-drained position, and a soil composed mainly of old mortar rubbish.
A. salicifolium (Willow-leaved). sti. tufted, 6in. to 12in. long. fronds 12in. to 18in. long, 6in. to 9in. broad, oblong, with a terminal pinna and four to ten distinctly stalked ones on each side, which are 4in. to 6in. long, ¾in. to 1in. broad, acuminate; edge usually entire, the base equally truncato-cuneate on both sides. sori falling short both of the edge and midrib. West Indies, &c. Stove species.
A. Sandersoni (Sanderson's).* sti. tufted, 1in. to 2in. long. fronds 6in. to 9in. long, ½in. to ¾in. broad, linear, often gemmiferous at the apex, with twelve to twenty horizontal dimidiate pinnæ on each side, which are deeply crenate on the upper edge, and at the base narrowed suddenly into a winged petiole, the lower one nearly straight and quite entire. sori oblong. Natal, &c. A very rare greenhouse species.
A. schizodon (cut-toothed). Synonymous with A. Vieillardii.
A. Schkuhrii (Schkuhr's). cau. erect. sti. 1ft. to 1½ft. long. fronds deltoid, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, tripinnatifid; lower pinnæ distant, oblong-lanceolate, 6in. to 8in. long, 1½in. to 2in. broad, rachis winged to base; pinnules ligulate-oblong, ⅜in. broad, sessile, cut into shallow, close, oblong blunt lobes. sori ⅛in., medial in a single row in the pinnules. Ceylon. Stove species. SYN. Diplazium Schkuhrii.
A. Selosii (Selose's).* sti. densely tufted, 1in. to 2in. long, wiry. fronds ½in. to ¾in. long, palmately cleft, usually into three nearly equal forks, which are about one line broad, the edge slightly inciso-serrate. sori copious, ultimately occupying the whole surface. Tyrol and Carinthia. A very rare and curious little species, requiring the protection of the frame or cool house; it should be firmly potted between pieces of sandstone in loam, leaf-soil, rock chippings and sand, with good drainage.
A. septentrionale (northern).* sti. densely tufted, 3in. to 4in. long. fronds simple, or cleft from the apex into two or three cuneate divisions, 1in. to 1½in. long, one line broad, with a few sharp lateral and terminal teeth. sori elongated, copious, often at last hiding the whole under surface. Great Britain, and widely distributed in both hemispheres. This rare little species requires to be securely planted in a well-drained elevated chink of the fernery outside, in loamy, gritty soil.
A. Shepherdi (Shepherd's).* sti. tufted, 1ft. long. fronds 12in. to 18in. long, 6in. to 9in. broad; lower pinnæ stalked, 4in. to 6in. long, 1in. to 1½in. broad, point acuminate, edge lobed above, ¼in. broad, somewhat toothed. sori linear, not reaching the edge. South America. Stove species. SYN. Diplazium Shepherdi.
A. S. inæquilaterum (unequal-sided). fronds, texture firm, colour duller than that of the type; pinnæ much acuminated; the lobes deeper, more uniform, and falcate, the two sides unequal, the lower one unequally truncate at the base.
A. spathulinum (spathulate). A synonym of A. affine.
A. spinulosum (very spiny).* sti. 6in. to 12in. long, scattered. fronds 9in. to 12in. each way, deltoid, tri- or quadripinnatifid, with nine to twelve pinnæ on each side, the lowest much the largest, 6in. to 9in. long, 2½in. to 3in. broad, ovate-lanceolate; pinnules lanceolate, cut down to the rachis on each side into six to nine oblong-rhomboidal mucronate segments, two lines long, one line broad, which are sharply toothed. sori two to ten to a segment, usually round, but occasionally oblong. Amur-land, &c. Greenhouse species. SYN. Athyrium spinulosum and Cystopteris spinulosa.
A. splendens (splendid). rhiz. creeping, scaly. sti. 6in. to 9in. fronds deltoid, 6in. to 1ft. long, two to three-pinnate; lower pinnæ stalked, deltoid, 1in. to 2in. broad, pinnate or bipinnate; segments cuneate-flabellate, ¼in. to ½in. broad, slightly lobed, sharply toothed round outer edge. sori copious, slender, irregular, reaching from base nearly to tip of segments. Cape Colony. A very rare greenhouse species.
A. subsinuatum (half-waved). Synonymous with A. lanceum.
A. sundense (Sundanese). Synonymous with A. vittæforme.
A. sylvaticum (woods). cau. decumbent. sti. 1ft. long. fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 8in. broad, ovate-lanceolate, with numerous spreading pinnæ, the largest 3in. to 4in. long, ½in. to ¾in. broad, acuminated; edge broadly and briefly lobed; base narrowed suddenly on both sides. sori in long slender lines, reaching nearly to the edge. India, &c. Stove species.
A. thelypteroides (Thelypteris-like). sti. 1ft. long. fronds 1ft. to 2ft. long, 6in. to 12in. broad, lanceolate, with numerous spreading pinnæ, the lower ones 4in. to 6in. long, 1in. broad, cut down to a broadly-winged rachis into numerous nearly entire elliptical spreading pinnules. sori in close regular rows, reaching nearly from the midrib to the edge, slightly curved, the lower ones often double. North America, &c., 1823. Hardy or cool house species. SYN. Athyrium thelypteroides.
A. Thwaitesii (Thwaites's).* rhiz. wide-creeping, stout. sti. 6in. long, slender, densely clothed with strong white woolly hairs. fronds 1ft. or more long, 4in. to 6in. broad, with eight to ten distinct pinnæ beneath the pinnatifid apex, the largest 3in. long, ⅝in. broad, cut down two-thirds of the way to the rachis in oblong crenulated lobes, ¼in. deep, two lines across. sori reaching half-way to the edge, the lowest about one line long. Ceylon. Very fine stove species. SYN. Diplazium Thwaitesii.
FIG. 174. ASPLENIUM TRICHOMANES.
A. Trichomanes (maiden-hair).* Maidenhair Spleenwort. sti. densely tufted, 1in. to 4in. long. fronds 6in. to 12in. long, about ½in. broad, with fifteen to thirty opposite pairs of sessile horizontal pinnæ, which are ¼in. to ⅜in. broad, one and a-half to two lines deep, edge slightly crenate, the two sides unequal, the upper one the broadest, and narrowed suddenly at the base. sori linear-oblong, three to six on each side of the midrib. Great Britain, and almost cosmopolitan. Hardy species. See Fig. 174. There are several varieties in cultivation, of which the following are the most important:
FIG. 175. ASPLENIUM TRICHOMANES CRISTATUM.
A. T. cristatum (crested).* fronds 4in. to 6in. long, simply pinnate, with roundish pinnæ, and broad crests at their extremities, sometimes divided, each fork crested. A very pretty little variety, requiring frame or greenhouse treatment. See Fig. 175.
A. T. incisum (deeply-cut).* fronds 3in. to 6in. long; pinnæ deeply pinnatifid, the lobes again deeply cut or serrated. A very rare and pretty form.
A. T. multifidum (much-divided).* fronds 3in. to 6in. long, once, twice, thrice, or, rarely, quadri-furcate, each division terminated with a little crest. A free-growing kind.
A. T. ramosum (branched).* fronds 5in. to 8in. long, freely branched, each division being again forked; pinnæ deeply cut or crenated, or serrate. More hardy than any of the other forms.
A. trilobum (three-lobed).* sti. tufted, 2in. to 3in. long. fronds 1in. to 1½in. long, 1in. broad, rhomboidal, apex acute, base cuneate, entire, the margin undulato-crenate, or the lower part deeply lobed, with broad inciso-crenate divisions. sori broad and short. Chili and South Brazil. A very rare little stove species. SYN. A. parvulum.
A. umbrosum (shady). sti. 1ft. or more long, scaly at the base. fronds 2ft. to 5ft. long, 12in. to 18in. broad, ovate-deltoid; pinnæ ovate-lanceolate, 6in. to 9in. long, 3in. to 6in. broad, with lanceolate pinnules, which are again cut down to the midribs into unequal-sided rhomboidal lobes, with the margins sharply crenated. sori copious, oblong, with large tumid membranous involucres. Madeira, Canaries, Himalayas, &c. Very widely distributed. A very handsome greenhouse species. SYNS. Allantodia australe, Athyrium umbrosum.
A. varians (variable). sti. tufted, 1in. to 3in. long. fronds 4in. to 6in. long, 1in. broad, oblong-lanceolate, with eight to twelve pairs of pinnæ on each side, lower ones sub-deltoid, ½in. to ¾in. long, ¼in. broad, cut down to the rachis into a few cuneato-flabellate pinnules, the lowest two lines across, sharply toothed on the outer edge. sori copious, when mature, covering nearly the whole under surface of the pinnules. Himalayas, and widely distributed. Greenhouse species.
A. Veitchianum (Veitch's). Synonymous with A. Belangeri.
A. Vieillardii (Vieillard's).* sti. tufted, 4in. to 6in. long. fronds 6in. to 9in. long, 6in. to 8in. broad, with large linear-lanceolate terminal pinna, lengthened out at the point, and deeply serrated, and three to four pairs of erecto-patent similar lateral ones, which are 3in. to 4in. long, upwards of ½in. broad, equally truncato-cuneate, and the lower ones slightly stalked at the base. sori distant, falling short of both edge and margin. New Caledonia. A very graceful greenhouse species. SYN. A. schizodon. A. apicidens is but a variety of this, with shortened sori and more obtuse venation.
