PYRROSIA (Cyclophorus). Felt fern. Asia. These are tough, undemanding ferns for containers and shady spots in the open garden, quite unlike other ferns in appearance. All have densely furry, branched rhizomes. The fronds are leathery, undivided to partially divided and presented on slender, usually darkly colored stalks. They are normally dark green on the upper, or (since they are usually held erect) “front”, surface and covered with a dense felt of tan to greyish hairs on the lower, or “back”, surface. Sun or part shade near the coast, part shade inland, reasonably well drained soil, moderate watering. Hardy to 20^oF or less, probably considerably less.

hastata. This species is similar to the better known P. lingua, described below, but has most of its fronds partially divided into a long central “finger” and two shorter side lobes.

lingua. Japanese felt fern. This is the species familiar to California gardeners. It has fronds 1' or more tall, the blades pointed-oval in shape and held nearly erect. They are solidly covered with tan-to rust-colored felt on the undersides. ‘Variegata’ has fronds of typical form, marked irregularly with pencil lines of yellow. One for which we have no name (probably one of many similar, named selections in Japan) has the ends of the fronds splayed and forked into a broad crest. Still another has short stalks and broad, oddly crinkled and distorted blades.

polydactylon (known also as pentadactylon). Perhaps the most interesting of the lot, for it has black stalks and blades divided hand-like into five large lobes. The backing is light grey.