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Aspleniums enjoy an abundance of moisture at the roots, but they will turn brown in the winter months in an excessively moist atmosphere. They should be kept in a very- lightly shaded position. A good potting material consists of equal parts of rich soil and leaf-mold or peat. The following are some of the most useful commercial kinds: A. Belangeri, height 2½ feet; A. bulbiferum (including A. laxum), which grows quickly into a handsome specimen about 20 inches high, and seems to stand the hot, dry American summers better than other species; A. salicifolium; and A. viviparum, which is dwarf, compact, with lace-like fronds, and easily propagated. For hanging-baskets, A. flaccidum is best. The foregoing species and others of like habit develop small plantlets on the surface and edge of pinnae. As soon as these are sufficiently strong, they may be detached, with a small piece of old pinnae, and pricked into shallow pans, the older part being placed below ground to hold the young plant firmly in position until roots have formed. The best soil for this purpose is composed of equal parts of fresh garden soil, leaf-mold or fine peat, and sand. Plant very firmly, and place in a shady, moderately moist and close position, where in ten or fifteen days they will make roots. The foregoing ones do best in a temperature of 50° F A. cristatum is easily grown from spores, and is very useful for fern-dishes.
Aspleniums enjoy an abundance of moisture at the roots, but they will turn brown in the winter months in an excessively moist atmosphere. They should be kept in a very- lightly shaded position. A good potting material consists of equal parts of rich soil and leaf-mold or peat. The following are some of the most useful commercial kinds: A. Belangeri, height 2½ feet; A. bulbiferum (including A. laxum), which grows quickly into a handsome specimen about 20 inches high, and seems to stand the hot, dry American summers better than other species; A. salicifolium; and A. viviparum, which is dwarf, compact, with lace-like fronds, and easily propagated. For hanging-baskets, A. flaccidum is best. The foregoing species and others of like habit develop small plantlets on the surface and edge of pinnae. As soon as these are sufficiently strong, they may be detached, with a small piece of old pinnae, and pricked into shallow pans, the older part being placed below ground to hold the young plant firmly in position until roots have formed. The best soil for this purpose is composed of equal parts of fresh garden soil, leaf-mold or fine peat, and sand. Plant very firmly, and place in a shady, moderately moist and close position, where in ten or fifteen days they will make roots. The foregoing ones do best in a temperature of 50° F A. cristatum is easily grown from spores, and is very useful for fern-dishes.
Supplementary list of less common trade names: A. aculeatum, Hort. Hab.(?).—A. arboreum. See Diplazium.—A. bifidum A. lineatum.—A. decorum, a sport from A. bulbiferum.—A. decussatum. See Callipteris.—A. ellipticum, Hort., a trade name.—A. flaccidum, Forst. Coolhouse basket fern from Austral., Tasmania and New Zeal. Lvs. 2-3 ft. long, 4-8 in. broad: stipes stout, flexible, greenish, naked; pinnae numerous, close or distant, lanceolate, leathery, 4-8 in. long, ½-¾ in. broad. Very variable.—A. Goringianum var. pictum. Mett (Athyrium Goringianum var. pictum. Hort.). Distinguished from all other members of the genus by the bright color of its entirely deciduous lvs., which are 10-15 in. long, spear-shaped, and pendulous. Possibly the only hardy variegated fern. It, however, needs glass protection for best results. Stalks purple or claret-colored: Lvs. green with a central band of gray; lvs. divided into sharply toothed pinnules on which the oblong or kidney-shaped son are arranged in 2 rows parallel to the midvein. Japan.—A. laceratum, Desv. Allied to A. Nidus and possibly a variety of that species. Lvs. narrower, cut into irregular lobes, each lobe having black stripe about 3 in. long. Brazil.— A. lanceum. See Diplazium. —A. Laurentii, Christ, var. denticulátum. Allied to A. macrophyllum but smaller. Congo.—A. lineatum, Swartz. Warmhouse species from Mauritius and Bourbon, is very variable, running into forma with lfts. again pinnate, which have either small, linear pinnules or these again twice cut: Lvs. 1-2 ft. long, 4-6 in, wide: stalks erect, 6-9 in. long, more or less scaly.—A. longissimum, Blume. The best of all the genus for large baskets. Lvs. 2-3 ft. long, 4-6 in. broad: stalks blackish, 3-12 in. long: lfts. sessile, auricled. E. Indies. S. 1:602.—A. macrophyllum, Swartz. Coolhouse species from Polynesia, Malaya, China, and Himalayas. Lvs. 6-18 in. long, 6-12 in. wide: stalks brownish: lfts. 6-12 pairs, stalked, 3-6 in. long, 1-3 in. wide, sharp-pointed, serrate.—A. Shepherdii, Spreng. See Diplazium.
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