Oleandra
(from Oleander, which plant O. nerii-formis is thought to resemble). ORD. Filices. A small genus (about half-a-dozen species) of stove Ferns, almost restricted to the tropics. They are distinguished from Nephrodium mainly in habit, with wide-creeping, scandent shoots, jointed stems, and entire, lanceolate-elliptical fronds. Sori round, inserted in a row near the base, or below the centre of the compact, free veinlets; involucre reniform. The species in cultivation may be used for pillar plants. A wire cylinder should be made around the pillar, and filled up with fibrous peat and sphagnum. The creeping rhizomes should then be laid over the surface, and fastened by means of small wire or wooden pegs. Large pots or pans may also be utilised, on which to build fibry peat in the shape of a cone or ball, covering the surface with rhizomes in the same way. Thus treated, specimens of almost any size may be, in course of time, obtained. For general culture, see Ferns.
O. articulata (jointed).* shoots firm, sub-erect, wide-climbing, scaly. sti. scattered, sometimes opposite, but not whorled, 1in. to 2in. long, with the joint close to the base. fronds 6in. to 12in. long, 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad. sori in two irregular rows, often some distance from the midrib. Natal, Mascarene Islands, &c. A fine, evergreen species.
O. hirtella (slightly hairy). A form of O. neriiformis. O. musaefolia (Musa-leaved). shoots firm, wide-climbing, clothed with adpressed scales. sti. 1/2in. to 1in. long, jointed close to the base. fronds 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, narrowed gradually towards both ends. sori in two irregular rows near the midrib; involucre oblique. Ceylon and Malayan Islands.
O. neriiformis (Oleander-like).* shoots woody, sub-erect, scaly. sti. 1/2in. to 1in. long, with the joint just below the middle. fronds 6in. to 18in. long, 3/4in. to 1 1/2in. broad, scattered or in opposite pairs, or often in terminal whorls, narrowed gradually towards both ends. sori in two rather irregular rows, near the midrib; involucre oblique. Tropics. A very handsome species, of which O. hirtella is merely a form.
O. nodosa (knotty).* shoots trailing horizontally, densely clothed with linear-subulate, spreading scales. sti. scattered, 2in. to 6in. long, often ebeneous, articulated not far from the base. fronds 6in. to 12in. long, 1 1/2in. to 2 1/2in. broad, the apex acuminate. the edge entire. sori scattered, placed nearly all in the inner half of the frond; involucre one-third of a line broad. West Indies, &c. A beautiful, free-growing species, distinguished from all the others by its trailing shoots, satiny gloss, and copious, irregularly-scattered sori.
O. Wallichii (Wallich's). shoots trailing horizontally; scales spreading, ferruginous. sti. close or scattered, 1/2in. to 2in. long, jointed close to the base. fronds 6in. to 12in. long, 3/4in. to 1 1/2in. broad, the apex acuminate; rachis naked or scaly. sori in single rows close to the midrib; involucre ciliated. North India (up to 7000ft. altitude).