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SIR WILLIAM JACKSON HOOKER, LLD. ; F.R., A. & L.S.,

&c. &c. &c.

AND

LATE PROFESSOR OF BOTANY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.

SIR,

To you , who stand so far before all other Writers in a practical
knowledge of British Botany, and who have made the Ferns so particularly the
subject of your attention , 1 beg respectfully to dedicate this little Work . I am
aware that it is too small to be worthy of your attention ; but I am anxious to
take as early an opportunity as possible of offering my homage to those brilliant
talents which have contributed so essentially to diffuse a love of Botany; that
energy without which even talents are unavailing , and that urbanity of manners
and liberality of feeling for which Botanists have always been celebrated.

That you may long be spared the full enjoyment of all your mental and
physical faculties, to cheer your Friends and to instruct the World, is the
ardent wish of

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

THE AUTHOR.

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PREFACE.

“ I acknowledge no authority but that of observation.” — Linn.

This motto was my governing1 principle in writing the following
work on the <f British Ferns and their Allies and in adopting it I
hope that I shall neither be accused of arrogance, neglect of the
opinion of others, nor yet of unnecessarily varying the details of
science. Should the reader ask, Why I write at all ? I answer, be-
cause the only book ever published upon this subject, (Bolton’s
“ Filices Britannicae,”) has long been out of print; and so much
difference of opinion exists as to the identity of some species, and
the arrangement of others, that I thought a plain and practical
synopsis like the present would be useful to the tyro, if not to the
practical botanist.

The materials from which it has been compiled are these : — I
inspected all the herbaria to which I had access ; gathered wild and
cultivated fronds wherever I could procure them ; and wrote to most
of our first-rate botanists for specimens, remarks, and habitats. All
these being collected, arranged, and studied, they were described and
engraved without reference to any series of plates or descriptions what-
ever. I then collated these with the works of Linnaeus, Willdenow,
Sprengel, Swartz, Pursh, Withering, Smith, Hooker, Lightfoot,
Hudson, &c. &c., and wherever there was a difference between myself
and others I searched again for the truth ; and, if still in doubt, have
been careful to record the disparity.

IV

PREFACE.

The long introductory matter explains all that is known of the
internal structure, not only of the indigenous species, but of foreign
also ; and as it tends to induce in the mind a philosophical knowledge
of the plants afterwards detailed, 1 flatter myself that the part
devoted to this will not be the least valuable to the student of nature.

The manner in which the object has been accomplished it is neces-
sary to explain more fully : and, first, as to the illustrative plates —
they are small, for the sake of economy, and are intended chiefly to
indicate the habit of the plants, while the magnified parts show their
detail. They might have been finer as works of art ; but, had they
been executed by an engraver, minute as they are, they would perhaps
have been less botanically accurate, as the smallest variation in many
of them would materially have altered their character ; and, there-
fore, although a first and an untutored attempt at etching, I have
preferred executing them myself, especially as by so doing I should
save a large expense, perhaps not be refunded by the sale of the work.
The engravings of genera is a new feature in illustration, and it is
hoped a useful one.

In the record and detail of species the following order is observed : —
hirst, the Latin and English name, and reference to figure. Secondly,
those essential characters which alone are necessary for discriminating
the species, and which alone the true botanist will find it convenient
to consult. The synonymes and references to figures in other works
which follow, give a history of the plant, and enable the student to
refer elsewhere, if in doubt. The description may be considered
collateral evidence, while the remaining parts will show him the
varieties to which his plant is subject, the cause of them, its parti-
cular and general distribution, and the peculiarities attached to it.

In the part of the work which treats of the genera, the reader will
find, first, the derivation of the genus, and a concise account of its
general characteristics, and under it the arrangement of the species,
according to their obvious distinctions.

In the essential characters of the different species, as few words as
possible have been used, and those few pure and scientific. In the
synonymes, which go back to the time of Linneeus, (or in some few
instances a little before,) the names of authors only are given, unless
they have called a plant by different names in different of their works,
when the works themselves are also specified. In the descriptive

PREFACE.

V

part, and discriminating remarks which follow it, pure scientific detail
has not been so much aimed at as obvious differences and popular
observations. The habitats have been collected from every authentic
source which was attainable by me ; a vast number will be found
which have not been recorded before, and those few which are con-
tained in previous publications have most of them been lately
authenticated.

Information of this varied and local kind cannot, of course, be
expected from any one’s unassisted labours. I have therefore had
recourse in the latter part to the assistance of friends, and I cannot
speak too highly of the kindness and warmth with which my advances
have been received, and without which indeed very much interesting
matter must of necessity have been omitted. I hope that I have
acknowledged in every instance the remarks thus received. My
obligations are particularly due to H. C. Watson, Esq., who lent me
the numerous lists, and manuscript localities, the results of his own
observations, or communicated by botanical correspondents whilst he
was preparing the “ New Botanist’s Guide also for the valuable
remarks of Mr. W. Wilson, Mr. W. Leighton, Dr. Murray, Rev. W.
Bree, Mr. W. Pamplin, Mr. Bevis, and Mr. Castle.

And now, kind reader, I leave the work in your hands, concluding
with the words of Linnseus to Haller : — “ If you have remarked
errors in me your superior wisdom must pardon them. Who errs not
while perambulating the domains of nature ? Who can observe every
thing with accuracy ? Correct me as a friend, and I as a friend will
requite the kindness.” ( March 1, 1837.)

The above remarks formed the preface to the first edition. The
alterations introduced into the present are such as my own further
study of this tribe, or the remarks of various kind friends have sug-
gested. The plates have been all re-engraved, and of a larger size,
consequently they are more numerous, and the plants, which it was
almost impossible to express in the former very minute sketches, are
more clearly defined. The general character of the plates are, how-
ever, similar, those of both editions having been drawn from almost
in every instance the very same specimens. The wood cuts, now
for the first time introduced, will, it is believed, be found useful.

VI

PREFACE.

The introduction contains much new and valuable matter on the organic
structure of certain species, which the laborious researches, and the
acumen of Messrs. Henderson, Valentine, &c., have enabled me to
avail myself of. Mr. H. C. Watson also has kindly contributed remarks
of real interest on the geographical distribution of the various tribes ;
and Mr. Bevis, of the Royal Botanic Garden, supplied me with the
ground-work of the appendix — my own cultivation of the class having
been very limited. The habitats have been arranged with more
regard to latitude, but they have not been materially increased. That
portion of the work devoted to scientific description has, no less than
the other parts, been carefully corrected, yet the alterations will be
found very few and unimportant.

My opinion of the identity and distinctness of certain species re-
mains unaltered ; yet I am aware that some writers differ from me,
and would unite two of the Polypodiums ; Asplenium alternifolium,
and Ruta muraria, &c., founding their opinion upon specimens pre-
served in herbaria. I venture to protest against a too general reliance
being placed upon this source of information. Not but that reference
to celebrated herbaria is most valuable, in addition to research ; but
this is all — a knowledge of plants can never be acquired by such
means, because herbaria do not testify the circumstances of aspect,
season, altitude, moisture, soil, and other influences, to which plants
are subject. I make this remark chiefly in reference to the Cysteas,
Woodsias, some of the Aspidiums, &c., about which botanists differ
more than about any other genera. It is true that numerous fronds
may be found of an intermediate character between two species ; still,
unless circumstances of growth be corresponding to all, this does
not prove identity between the remote examples. This observation
particularly applies to Ferns, because the diagnoses of the species
rest mainly upon the shape of the frond, and this is the partwdiich is
alone subject to variation. The herbaria of even the most celebrated
botanists are not always to be depended upon for accuracy. Plants
are often received named — the name without examination is almost
as frequently considered correct, and that specimen forms henceforth a
criterion whereby to name others; thus error is continued and
multiplied. To these causes I am inclined to attribute the contrariety
of opinion which exists relative to our Ferns ; and I may add, perhaps,
to our Willows, Roses, and Brambles.

PREFACE.

Vll

It may, perhaps, be expected that I should have said something
relative to the new system of classifying Ferns according to their
venation. I have not done so in the body of the work, because I do
not find the system either correct, convenient, or practicable. For
example, the veins of the British Trichomanes and Hymenophyllum
are precisely similar, yet few would assign all these to the same genus.
The veins of Polypodium vulgare and phegopteris are very different
from each other, yet the plants are conveniently placed together. The
veins of the latter plant resemble those of Aspidium oreopteris, yet
I cannot consent to unite the two into one species. As to the veins
of Grammitis ceterach, Mr. Newman shows them as anastomozing ;
Mr. Presl as distinct and unattached at their extremities. Mr. Smith,
Curator of Kew Gardens, and who has paid much attention to the
subject, says, that neither of my figures, and which are copied — the
one from Newman, the other from Presl, is correct ; and as to my
own opinion, I confess I cannot make them out at all to my satis-
faction, and that is the case generally with the coriaceous Ferns,
particularly after having been dried for the herbarium.

In order that the future botanist may know the plants from which
this little work has been written, I intend, (simultaneous with the
publication of this edition,) to present my specimens of British Ferns
to the Linneean Society, that all may see them who desire it.

G. FRANCIS.

27, Cottage Grove , Mile End,
June 1st, 1842.

’

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• '

■

.

1

INTRODUCTION.

A Fern is a flowerless plant which has a fibrous root, vascular stem,
nerved leaves, reticulated cuticle furnished with stomata ; and which
bears spores as fruit in capsular receptacles.

The Ferns and their Allies form the first order of the Linnaean
class Cryptogamia, and the structure of them shows so exactly an
intermediate character between the Vasculares and Cellulares, that
all systems of classification have assigned them this station among
vegetables. They are without flowers, have but imperfectly-formed
vessels, and no deposition of real woody fibre, they therefore cannot
with propriety be arranged with Phaenogamous plants ; while their
semi- vascular texture and fully- developed leaves show their organi-
zation to be greatly above that of any other order of Cryptogamia.

Although the True Ferns have a direct analogy with the Palmae
and Cvcadeae, the connexion between them and other orders is more
apparent in the Pteroides or Fern Allies, particularly the Equiseta
and Lycopodia. The Equiseta are nearly connected with several
orders of Flowering plants. In their hollow, jointed, silicious stems,
they resemble the Grasses ; in other respects the Coniferae and
Amentaceae, approaching the one by means of the genus Casuarina,
and the other by that of Ephedra, nor are they far removed in
structure from the Charas; thus connecting also the Ferns and the
Algae. The other of the Fern Allies, the Lycopodia, were considered
by the earlier botanists as Mosses, so slightly do they differ from that
tribe, not only in habit, but in many important characteristics.

Thus the tribes under consideration, which are divided according to
the modern system into Filicales, Lycopodales, and Equisetales;
the first the True Ferns, the others the Pteroids or Fern Allies,
altogether form valuable, because well-connecting links in the great
chain of nature,

B

4

INTRODUCTION.

perfect plants, but rather of a flat band, like a riband rolled spirally on a cylinder.
Mixed with these vessels, which are real tracheae, are tubular perforated ducts.
The whole, thus compounded of the two sorts, is sometimes collected into a close
bundle, but more generally into a cylindrical sinuous ring, either hollow or filled
with cellular tissue, and surrounded with a dark membrane. The number of these
fascicles bears considerable relation to the size of the frond ; thus in Pteris aquilina,
there are eight or ten ; in Aspidium aculeatum, five ; in Polypodium vulgare,
three ; while in the minuter species there is but one, which then occupies the
centre of the rachis. When several bundles are present, no general rule can be
given for their position, (though constant in the same species,) so varied are they
in shape, size, and distance from each other. It is thought that the depression so
often visible on one side of the rachis is occasioned by the absence of vessels on
that part.

The cellular substance appears to have no tendency to arrange itself in strata,
nor do the vessels increase in number as the plant increases in age. The sterns^
therefore, contain no real wood ; the nearest approach to it being the hardened
cuticle and the ducts themselves. They increase very little in diameter, but
grow longitudinally throughout their whole length.

The Frond is in its leafy part thin, veiny, and green. The veins do not extend
longitudinally through the leaf in any species, as in the Monocotyledones, but
diverge in a forked form, (dichotomously divided,) from the base of the leaf, or
from the midrib ; differing, however, from those in dicotyledonous plants in not
containing woody fibre, and in being uniform in size throughout all their ramifica-
tions, and therefore more properly called nerves than veins. The divisions of the
frond are for the most part constant in the same species, but varied in their size
and number by external circumstances ; the primary causes of which are supera-
bundance or deficiency of nutriment, while temporary heat or moisture, exposure,
shelter, or season of the year, occasion other but less striking irregularities.
Even these causes have but little effect over numerous kinds, and very seldom in
any case do they occasion so great an alteration of ordinary characters, as to throw
doubt upon the species. (See Cistopteris fragilis.) The Ferns are several years
before they come to maturity, until which their essential characters are not always
obvious. Thus young plants of Aspidium Filix-mas very much resemble Woodsia
ilvensis ; they are first pinnatifid, then pinnate, afterwards when perfect nearly
doubly pinnate. Also when a Fern has its barren fronds different from those
which are fertile, the latter are more contracted, as if the sap which expanded the
leaves of the one was employed in nourishing the fruit of the other.

The Vernation. — The circinate vernation, or curling up of the unexpanded
frond, which prevails in all the dorsal Ferns, is almost peculiar to this tribe and
one of their allies, being found in only two other orders ; namely, the Palmae and
Cycadeae. If the frond be simple, so is the vernation, resembling a flat spiral
spring ; but when the frond is subdivided, the vernation becomes equally com-
pound, the larger divisions first opening, and by degrees the branches, pinnae,
and lobes.

INTRODUCTION.

&

The Scales so visible upon some species, have been thought merely an
excrescent growth caused by superabundant sap exuding from the surcharged
pores. Sprengel supposed that they wrere part of the epidermis itself, lacerated
by the pressure of the juices beneath. Perhaps both of these opinions are correct,
a part of the epidermis of the frond being first detached, and afterwards nourished
in the same manner as animal hair, and although void of life yet increasing from
the base.

The Cuticle of the leafy portion of the frond presents a reticulated appear-
ance, (the meshes having wavy sides,) and is furnished on the under surface
with respiratory stomata, similar in form and function to those of Flowering
Plants. The number of these on a given space is in a great degree accordant
with the rapidity of the frond’s withering when gathered. They are very abun-
dant in Aspidium filix-foemina, Aspidium dilatatum, and Polypodium Dryopteris.
Thus is explained the cause of the drooping habit of this last and some other
species. Be it observed, however, that in Grammitis ceterach and Aspidium
lobatum they are still more numerous, yet these latter plants do not wither so
soon, a circumstance that may easily be accounted for from the frond of both
being thicker, the deprivation of an equal quantity of water not producing so great
an effect.

THE REPRODUCTION of Ferns is a subject involved in much obscurity.
Hedwig, Bernhardi, and others, have proposed theories to explain this intricate
matter, but without success. That the Ferns have no visible flowers is evident,
but that they have some apparatus analogous to stamens, is maintained by most of
our first botanists. So keen has been the search for these in the present tribe,
that every part of the plant has been subjected to the minutest investigation : not
only the theca; , their ring, and their cover, but the spiral vessels of the rachis,
the stomata upon their cuticle, and the glands which are sometimes found
attending upon them.

Sprengel long ago stated that the young sori, or rather that the swelled extre-
mity of the veins of Polypodium vulgare, which sometimes remain abortive, and
at others produce thecse, were filled with oblong-shaped bodies of a greyish color,
which he considered to be stamens, and as yielding pollen in the same manner as
the external stamens of flowering plants. These being attended upon by young
ovules, the latter became impregnated and grew to perfection, while the pollen
masses were decayed or absorbed. This opinion was in a great degree and for a
long time disregarded, (perhaps because of his imperfect figures,) and the grey
bodies considered to be abortive capsules. The following remark , however, from
“ The Annals of Natural History,” given in the synopsis of a paper read before
the Academy of Sciences at Bei’lin, March, 1840, by Professor Link, throws a
stronger light upon the subject. “ The part which Sprengel years ago indistinctly
figured, and which Blume and Presl at present consider to be made organs of
fructification, have been more accurately examined by Professor Link, and illus-
trated by drawings. They are long hollow filaments, separated by septa into
articulations generally simple, rarely ramified ; the last articulation is thicker,

6

INTRODUCTION.

and filled with a delicate granular mass. It may also at times be observed that
this mass is exuded at the last articulation, and surrounds this as a crust. These
parts are frequently longer than the capsules, and are easily distinguished from
the young capsules.” The late Professor Don, who wrote the above, adds — ■
“ It is certainly probable that they are the stamina of Ferns, and indeed Link
found them, after frequent search, in most of the Ferns which he submitted to
microscopical examination.” Mr. Henderson, in an interesting paper on “ The
Germination of Ferns,”* denies that there is any impregnation in Ferns, Mosses,
or Equiseta ; yet, in an after paper read before the Linnsean Society on “The
Reproductive Organs of Equisetum,” completely confirms the above view. He
states that he has found two kinds of granules in the unripe thecse of Ferns,
Lycopodium, and Ophioglossum ; that the one kind is mostly absorbed daring the
maturing of the other ; and by submitting each to the test of iodine, he proved
the one to be amylaceous or starchy — the other more of the nature of pollen.
Thus the matter seems set at rest ; and as Mr. Henderson has found similar pollen
granules in the thecae of Mosses and Jungermanniae ; in the apothecia of Lichens;
in the lamellae of Agarics, and in the perithecia of some other Fungi, his experi-
periments assist much in elucidating other tribes, as well as that under especial
consideration.

Seeds or Spores, and their Germination. — The small, round, rough
grains contained in the thecae, considered formerly as gemmae or buds, are now
known as seeds, yet differing from common seeds in many respects. They have
no cotyledons, but are a mass of cellular substance. Instead of sending upwards
a plumule, and downwards a radical, from fixed points, they grow indifferently
from any part of their surface ; that most exposed to light shooting into the
future frond, while the deeper point propels the root. Owing to these differences
the seeds have been called, not only here but in all the tribes of Cryptogamic
vegetables, spores (or sporules) rather than seeds. They retain their vitality for
many years, and those brushed from the dried plants of an herbarium will grow
long after the specimens have been gathered, coming up first with a small crown
or bud, from which soon issues a peculiar shaped frond not unlike that of a Lichen,
or rather like that of Marchantia, and differing much from the fronds of future
growth. When this has expanded to a certain size, according to the species, the
centre of it, both below and above, becomes thicker ; the lower part elongates
into a root, while the upper part assumes a gyrate or circinate form, and gradually
unfolds itself into an upright frond, of the same texture though much less divided
than those afterwards produced.

Theca and Sorus. — The spores in all the species are contained in capsules or
thecse, each of which opens at a transverse irregular fissure, and is furnished with
a jointed spring, nearly surrounding it, and by the elasticity of which the capsule
is torn open and the spores dispersed. The thecte are collected into linear,
oblong, or circular clusters, called sori, of which Professor Link thus writes :f —

* “ Mag, of Zoology and Botany,” v. I., p. 340.

t 11 Ann, of Nat. History,” August 1840.

INTRODUCTION.

7

“ The sorus is in general situated on a receptacle which, when roundish, consists
entirely of short spiral vessels, so called, vermicoid bodies, similar to the thickened
extremities of the leaf nerves, which might therefore be regarded as abortive
receptacles, ( query thecae.) In the elongated receptacles, spiral vessels are also
met with.” The sori are in some tribes of the Ferns naked, but in the generality
covered with a scale or indusium, of shape similar to themselves. I remarked in
the first edition, that the origin of this integument was undoubtedly similar to
that of the scales, namely, disrupted epidermis. Microscopic observations,
however, induce me to doubt this assigned origin for the indusia, and to consider
them as distinct organs, as much so indeed as the calyx of a flowering plant, or
the calyptra of a Moss. Whether they arise from the vermicoid bodies of Link,
just spoken of, or not, I have been prevented from observing. These certainly
attend the genus Woodsia, and are intermingled with the thecae, the genus having
no real indusium. In the genera Cystopteris, of Aspidium Adiantum, Pteris,
&c., the reticulation of the indusium and epidermis is very different, and the
former is not furnished with stomata. In many genera this organ may be
supposed a part of the frond itself turned over upon the thecae, as in Adiantum
and Pteris, but I believe the reticulation is very distinct.

NUMBER AND DISTRIBUTION. — For the following remarks upon this
subject I am indebted to H. C. Watson, Esq., than whom no botanist has more
studied the subject. He says, — “ Dorsiferous Ferns are found in every part of
Britain, except on the summits of the loftier mountains, and in small spaces of
the lower grounds, whence they are banished by local peculiarities of the soil or
surface. But overlooking these merely local exceptions, of trifling extent, Polypo-
diaceae may be stated to range over the whole of Britain, from south to north ;
from east to west ; and from the shores of the sea almost to the summits of the
highest hills ; in which latter situation their absence is to be attributed rather to
the bleak exposure than to the absolute height. The number of our dorsiferous
Ferns will be estimated variously, according to the views entertained with respect
to union or division of reputed species, but 35 is the number most generally
received. These bear a proportion to flowering plants, (reckoning the latter
at 1400,) of 1 to 40. The order has a great numerical predominance over
the other orders of Filicales, all taken together ; the proportion of its species
being to those of the other three orders, as G to 1. And since the most
abundant and widely-ranging species of Ferns are also to be found amongst the
Polypodiacese, the effect of this order in the general vegetation of our island
much exceeds that of the allied orders of Ferns. Of the six species referred to
other orders, one is exclusively an inhabitant of Yorkshire, (if it really be there
still ;) namely, Trichomanes brevisetum ; a second, Hymenophyllum Tunbrigense,
is local ; a third, H. Wilsoni, though much more plentiful, is limited to the
northern and western counties ; whilst the other three, the Osmunda, Botrychium,
and Ophioglossum, though widely scattered through Britain, are by no means so
generally present as many of the Polypodiacese. Several of the British dorsife-
rous Ferns are so widely and plentifully scattered throughout the island, that

8

INTRODUCTION.

there can be no doubt about their existence in every county of Britain ; although
published records will not enable any one to make the assertion on evidence.
Others, on the contrary, are much more limited in their range, being absent from
the southern, or northern, or lowland counties of England. Only a few species
can be called decidedly rare. The mountain valleys below 1500 or 2000 feet are
the head quarters of Polypodiaceae ; very few species wholly shunning the moun-
tain tracts, and a still less number being exclusively confined to the higher
parts of the hills. The specimens are numerous amongst the mountain valleys,
in the western counties, and in the vicinity of the coast. On the contrary, they
are few in marshes, on low plains, dry moors, exposed downs, and places destitute
of woods or other shelter from sun and wind. Apparent exceptions to the
favorable or unfavorable effects of any of these conditions, may usually be ex-
plained by excess in some other and counteracting one. Thus, the salt spray and
violent winds of the western shores are highly unfavorable to the growth of
most Ferns, though otherwise their humidity of atmosphere would be favorable ;
and accordingly whilst the exposed shores and cliffs may be almost without Ferns,
caves and sheltered ravines in their immediate vicinity may be numerously
tenanted. For the most part, however, even situations that are unsuitable to the
majority of Ferns, have their own appropriate species. Thus, Asplenium mari-
num flourishes on cliffs exposed to the sea ; Pteris aquilina and Blechnum often
grow on the unsheltered heaths, in places open to sun and wind ; Asplenium ruta-
muraria and As. Adiantum nigrum live in the crevices of dry walls and rocks.
There are, however, no aquatic Ferns, and scarcely any of the Polypodiacese, that
-can be designated marsh plants ; unless that occupant of swampy bogs, Aspidium
thelypteris, be called a tenant of the marshes. A light friable soil, and more
especially that formed by the decay of tree leaves, mosses, or other vegetables,
is suitable to the roots of most Ferns ; but some delight in limestone soils, as
Grammitis ceterach, Polypodium calcareum, and Cistopteris fragilis ; whilst the
Asplenium septentrionale and Woodsia ilvensis seem to affect the basaltic trap and
the harder primary rocks. The operations of human industry have greatly
interfered with the natural distribution of Ferns in this country. They have been
banished from our roads, corn fields, meadows, and artificial pastures ; and the
cutting of peat, and burning of heath and furze, often check the growth of species
fitted to thrive in places where these operations are performed. On the other
hand, our hedge-banks, loose stone fences, old buildings, and neglected quarries,
frequently become artificial fernetums, by affording suitable habitats for several
species. These remarks on the distribution of Polypodiaceae will be understood
to apply to the island of Great Britain only. Ireland has twenty-six species of
dorsiferous Ferns ; but of their range and distribution within that island little is
known. All those of Ireland are natives also of England.*

* A very interesting and extended paper upon the distribution of our Ferns, by Mr. Watson, will
be found in “ The Transactions of the Edinburgh Botanical Society,” Part II. The above remarks,
together with others of a corresponding character, inserted at other places, were kindly con-
tributed to the Author, in writing, some time since. They may not agree, therefore, in precise
words with the Edinburgh paper.

INTRODUCTION,

9

VIRTUES. — The uses of the Ferns are not very conspicuous. Their bitter
principle renders them unpalatable to all creatures. Neither men nor brutes
employ any species as an article of food, unless driven by the necessity of
hunger ; * and even the little insects that infest herbaria refuse to prey upon
them. They are not, however, wholly useless, either in medicine or the arts.
Their nauseous taste renders them efficacious in expelling intestinal worms ;
some of them have been used as a substitute for hops in brewing, and with better
success than most other plants, on account of the tannin and gallic acid they
contain, precipitating the feculent matter in the wort. The same constituent
principles renders them also serviceable in preparing kid and other light leathers,
and when burnt they yield much comparatively pure potass. The dried fronds of
the common brakes are valuable to pack fruit in, and as they retain moisture less,
are much better than straw to shield garden plants from frost. Except for these
uses, the Ferns have been but little employed, unless, indeed, for those purposes to
which most plants when dry are available, namely, for thatch, for fodder, and
for fuel.f

HYMENOPHYLLACEiE.

( Containing the Genera Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes .)

Trichomanoide^e, Kaulf.; — Filices desciscentes, Spreng.; — Part of
Gyrate, Annulate, Polypodiace.e, Gleicheniace.e, Filices ver^e,
Hymenophylle.i, &c. of Authors.

STRUCTURE. — The plants contained in this order long maintained a
situation among the dorsal Ferns, though improperly, because their fruit is not
dorsal but marginal, growing in a distinct and differently organised receptacle.
The annulus corresponds in its functions, jointed appearance, and elasticity, to
those of the last order, except that instead of its being a continuation of the
foot-stalk of the theca, it is placed obliquely or transversely, and of consequence
the theca bursts vertically. For this reason, Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes
form an order separate from the Polypodiacese. Besides the difference in the fruit,
the texture of the leaves is much more cellular than in the last order. The stem
of each native genus is quite smooth and round, and contains but one bundle of
spiral vessels ; this is solid and forms an axis. The thecse arise from the veins

* Professor Henslow was kind enough to point out to me some time since that I had forgotten
the circumstance of the New Zealanders living mainly upon Fern roots. It is true that they do
so ; still Ferns are a sorry food, and now that the colonists have taught the natives the art of
cultivation, Fern roots are becoming less and less an article of consumption. That hunger
alone induced the islanders to use these roots as food, may be inferred from the circumstance,
that they were ready enough to work for the first settlers merely to be supplied with the
commonest European grain or pulse, though the Fern grew abundantly on every side, and might
have been procured and prepared comparatively without labor or expense.

t For the proper and modern culture of the Ferns, see the Appendix.

, C

ID

INTRODUCTION.

still more evidently than even in the preceding order, as the receptacle is in the
place of a lobe of the leaf. The laminae of the lobe contracted form the valves of
the receptacle, and its vein or nerve exists as a central column, covered with
fructification ; in Hymenophyllum terminated thereby ; in Trichomanes the vein
is prolonged much beyond the thecse. The root of Trichomanes is thick, black,
and very hairy ; that of Hymenophyllum very long, creeping, and matted
together.

DISTRIBUTION. — u Hymenophyllacese, more impatient of drought than
many of the Polypodiacese, delight in shaded situations, where they are bedewed by
frequent mists and the spray of waterfalls ; growing on damp rocks and stones,
half buried amongst the Mosses that accompany them ; and like the Mosses
rapidly shrinking or expanding with variations of moisture. Two of the three
native species are rare in Britain, especially the Trichomanes, which is peculiar to
Yorkshire, if it be not now extinct in England. Another, Hymenophyllum Tun-
bridgense, is found in various counties of England and Scotland, varying from
Devon and Sussex to the river Clyde, in Scotland. The much more abundant
H. Wilsoni, was so long confounded with the former species, that it has been
supposed a rarer plant than it really is, for tlie greater number of localities
assigned for H. Tunbridgense belong to H. Wilsoni. This latter species ranges
from Cornwall, northward, to Sutherland, and rises on the mountains of Wales
nearly to 2000 feet, and not improbably more.” — -Mr. Watson's MS.

OSMUNDACE.E.

(Contains only the genus Osmunda.)

Osmundacej:, Br., Kaulf., Lind., HooJc., Agard. ; — Osmunde^e, Spreng. ; —

Sc H ISM ATOPE RIDES, Willd. ; — SPURIJE GyRAT.E, SwZ. ; RlMATCE, MollV . ;

— -Acrogyratjs, Bernh. ; — Exannulatji of Modern Authors.

STRUCTURE. — This order varies very little from the two former, except
in the fructification. The rachis is similar in vernation and structure — the mixed
vessels are arranged in the indigenous species in part of a circle like the letter (g.
The cuticle of the stem is void of stomata, but on the under surface of the
foliaceous part of the frond they are round, abundant, and very large. In the
fruit, a great difference exists between this and the Annulate Ferns. The thecse
are transparent and wrinkled, but not ringed ; they are not torn asunder
irregularly, but open at a distinct longitudinal fissure, and are thus shown to be
regularly two-valved. They are not fixed at the back of a leafy frond, but
densely clustered at the top into a large erect raceme. The leaflets of the upper
part of the frond are also seen partly changed into thecse of similar character,
thus proving the origin of the whole. (See Osmunda.)

INTRODUCTION.

11

DISTRIBUTION. — “ Here the distribution of an order is that of a single
species only, the Osmunda regalis, which prevails chiefly in the south-west of
England, and perhaps the south-west of the Highland tract ; being very frequent
on the coasts of Cornwall, and occurring in plenty about some of the lochs of
Argyleshire, and on adjacent islands. The range of the Osmunda extends the
whole length and breadth of Britain ; but whether it be found on the islets north
of Sutherland, or west of Islay, is yet unknown. Still, there are considerable
tracts along the eastern side of England and Scotland, where it is either extremely
scarce or wholly wanting. The Osmunda differs from most of the dorsiferous
Ferns in being adapted to thrive in marshy places, and to flourish on the sea
shores, sometimes only just above high water line. Notwithstanding that it
endures the boreal climate of Sutherland, (a county in which the specimens are
said to be small,) the Osmunda is perhaps never seen much above the sea level in
England, although the general vegetation of the coast in Sutherland approximates
closely to what is observed at 1000 or 1200 feet of elevation in England. In
respect to frequency of occurrence, the Osmunda may rank nearly on the level of
its allies, the Botrychium and Ophioglossum, though rather less frequent than
either of these.” — Mr. Watson’s MS.

OPHIOGLOSSACEiE.

( Contains Botrychium and Ophioglossum.)

Ophioglossace^e, Br., Lind., fyc.; — Ophioglosse^e, Spreng.; — Filices,
Linn., Smith, Hook., fyc. ; — Stachiopterides, Willd. ; — Bivalva, Hoffm.;
Valvatve, Web., Mohr. Agyraee, Sivz.

STRUCTURE. — The plants contained in this order are very near in general
structure to that of the last, yet in some important particulars they differ very
materially. Their root is smooth, fibrous and yellow, not creeping nor hairy :
and gives rise to one or at most two fronds only, which issue from the ground
with a straight and not circinate vernation. The frond half way up divides into a
leafy expansion. The thecse are sessile, opaque, ringless, smooth, collected into
a simple or compound spike, and are supposed to arise, as in the last-described
order, from the leaf itself. The thecse open by a regular transverse fissure, emitting
smooth, yellow, very minute seeds ; those of Botrychium in twos or threes. The
roots of both genera are perennial, the stems herbaceous and hollow. The stem of
Botrychium containing its ducts in two bundles near the centre ; that of Ophio-
glossum in from five to seven bundles, seated between two cylindrical cuticles, and
by their pressure forcing the inner one into a tortuous form.

DISTRIBUTION. — “ The two plants comprehended in this small order differ
from most of the Polypodiacese, by growing chiefly in more open situations ;
their upright habit perhaps rendering them less adapted to banks and rocks.

12

INTRODUCTION.

Both range widely through Britain, and are about equally frequent, holding an
intermediate place between the rare and the common plants. The Ophioglossum
prevails chiefly in England, decreasing in frequency northward. The Botrychium,
on the contrary, is abundant on the hills and moors of the north, and becomes a
rare plant in the south, and especially in the south-east of England. Ophioglos-
sum ranges from the south of England, as Devon and Sussex, northward at least
to Moray ; and, if we may rely upon Barry’s ‘ History of Orkney/ to those
islands also. The Botrychium is scarce on the south side of the Thames and
Bristol Channel, but is stated to grow in North Devon and in Hampshire, though
not introduced into the Flora of the former county. The stations in the south
of England of course indicate that both species will grow at a low elevation, and
remote from the mountain tract, even in the warmest part of Britain ; and both
also thrive amidst the mountains in the north of England and Scotland ; but the
Botrychium probably rises to a much greater height on the hills, as it occurs on
the Breadalbane mountains, near Killin, at the estimated height of 1000 yards,
whilst no very high elevation for the Ophioglossum appears on record. Of the
two, the Botrychium is the. least frequent, or seems to be so on account of its
more boreal and Alpine tastes.”- — Mr. Watson's MS.

ISQETACEAS.

(Containing Isoetes only.)

Lycopodiacea, Lind., Decan., Brongn. ; — Marsileacea, Hook. ; — Miscel-
lanea, Part of Rhizosperma, Rhizopterides, Hydropterides, &c.

The genus Isoetes has in all arrangements of British plants been associated with
Pilularia, on account of their both being water plants, both having round and
filiform leaves, and bearing two kinds of grains or capsules ; but, except in these
particulars, they are totally different from each other. The roots of Isoetes are
tufted, composed of round, smooth, branched fibres ; its leaves grow from a
crown, and consist of four hollow tubes, united together ; but so brittle are they,
that the cells are often broken into each other by the pressure used in drying the
plants, and therefore the leaf generally appears a single tube, divided into cells
by transverse dissepiments. It is so swelled at the base that the joint or cell next
the root becomes a receptacle for the fruit, which being of two kinds, as in
Pilularia, are considered analogous to them ; viz. pollen and spores respectively,
the former in fine powdery grains in the inner leaves — the real spores or seeds
being confined to those on the outside of the plant. These larger globules are not
single round spores, but each is composed of three or four spores, joined
together. Their junction shows at the apex three radiating lines, which were for a
long time considered as the hilum of the seed. The attachment and arrangement
of the globules within the receptacle are very beautiful and remarkable. The

INTRODUCTION.

13

theca when cut across exhibits a number of transverse bars, to which the spores
are attached by little foot-stalks, there being four on each bar, set crosswise with
each other. The leaves are said to have stomata, and to be circinate in vernation,
but neither of these is the case. Being a submersed water plant, of course it is
without stomata, and Martius expressly says, “ vernation not circinate, but only
a little bent.” An observation confirmed to me by four or five botanists of
eminence.

DISTRIBUTION. — “ The single species of this order, a submerged aquatic,
can of course grow only where there is a suitable home in the waters. Probably
it may require also that the water be of low temperature in summer, since most
of its habitats are the Highland lakes ; although, according to Mr. Griffith, it
extends southward into Shropshire. There are very few other English and Welsh
counties that produce it, and these few are all mountainous ; namely, Caernar-
vonshire, Denbighshire, Cumberland, and Northumberland. In most counties
north of the Firths of Forth and Clyde, we may find it in the lakes, some of them
being situate 600 yards or upwards above the sea.” — Mr. Watson’s MS.

MARSILEACEiE.

(Including only Pilularia.)

Part of the Marsileace^e, Br., Brongn., Decan., Hoofc., Grev. ; — Hvdrop-
terides, Willd. ; — Rhizosperm^e, Roth; — Rhizopterides, Mart.; —
Radicalia, Hoffm. ; — Rhizocarp^e, Batsch.

The stem of Pilularia, which is the only English genus of this order, is creeping,
and set at intervals with leaves, roots, and fruit. The leaves or petioles, as some
call them, are curled up in vernation, as in the Polypodiacese, have stomata upon
their cuticle, and a cross section of them shows that they are divided longitudinally
into various cells, separated from each other by septa radiating from the centre,
and forming by their union a kind of axis, composed of dotted ducts or spiral
vessels. Thus the structure of the leaf although without a central cavity, is in
a great degree analogous to that of the stem of the Equisetacese, and also to the
leaf of Isoetes. The roots and stems are similarly constructed.

The thecse are round, coriaceous, brown, hairy, and divided into four cells.
They contain globules of two kinds ; the first small round grains, said to be pollen,
but which others consider as abortive capsules. These occupy principally the
upper part of each theca ; in the lower are found much larger grains, which are
oval, rather pointed, contracted in the middle, and at their apex have a conical
projection. These are true spores, and as well as the former are contained in
membranous bags. Since writing the above, a very valuable paper by Mr.
Valentine, upon “ The Germination and General Structure of Pilularia,” was
read before the Linnsean Society, and is to be found in their “ Transactions,”

14

INTRODUCTION.

for 1841, page 483, from which I extract the following remarks:- — “The first
external sign of germination is the appearance of four cells projecting through
the apex. The enlarged cellular mass then distends the conical projection,
and at length appears with four of its cells projecting beyond the general
mass, and compressed into a quadrangular form. These projecting cells soon
harden, and acquire a reddish brown hue — soon after which little fibrillee or
rootlets begin to shoot from one side. They are simply articulated tubes, or
elongated cells applied end to end, each produced from one of the cells of the
germ. The germ now gradually points in two places, which are by no means
fixed, but occur in various situations, according to the position of the sporule in
respect to light. These two points gradually lengthen, and if dissected, each
will be found to consist of a closed sheath, containing in one instance the leaf,
in the other the root, in the form of a conical process like a finger in a glove.
Besides this sheath which embraces the upper part of the root, there is an
exceedingly delicate expansion which closely embraces the extremity of the root
like a cap. After the leaf has grown to be many times the length of the sporule,
or about two lines long, another leaf grows from the germ close to the first, to
which it is in all respects similar ; and then a bud begins to be developed from
some indefinite part of the germ, and like the leaves and root form within a sheath.
This bud is covered by a peculiar kind of jointed hairs, whose attachments are
lateral at a short distance from their bases. ”

Mr. Valentine then shows the origin and progress of the sporules within the
theca, making afterwards the following pointed remark: — “This account of
Pilularia shows that it is incorrect to say of Acrogens that germination takes
place at no fixed point, but upon any part of the surface of the spores ; for it is
quite certain in this instance that germination invariably takes place at a fixed
spot, which may be pointed out before germination has commenced.’ ’ This view
exactly accords with some experiments I have instituted, and with the remarks
of Dr. Lloyd, who read a most interesting paper upon this subject, before the
British Association, in 1836. The statement in “ Lindley’s Nat. Sys.” ed. 2,
page 416, that the theca never produces but one plant, is not correct, for if
the theca be broken and its contents scattered, numerous of the spores will
germinate.

DISTRIBUTION. — “ The solitary species of this order belonging to Britain is
widely distributed, being found in Devon and Sussex, and extending at intervals
from those counties northward to Sutherland. It is either frequently overlooked,
or is otherwise a scarce plant in the south of England, increasing in plenty in the
northern counties ; probably the drier climate of the south-east of England,
causing the small pools to diminish much or entirely to dry up in summer, is
adverse to the existence of a plant that is adapted to grow within the shallow
margins of ponds and lakes. Of its range in altitude, little seems to have been yet
ascertained.” — Mr. Watson's MS:

INTRODUCTION.

15

LYCOPODIACEAL

(Comprises only Lycopodium.)

Lycopodiaceje, Br., Decan., HooJc., Lindl., Burn. ; — Lycopodineje, Swz. ;
LYCOPODEiE, Spreny. ; — Bivalvia, Hojfm. ; — Yalvam, Web., Mohr.; —
Stachiopterides, Willd.

STRUCTURE. — The Lycopodia resemble the Mosses in habit, the Ferns in
vascular structure and foliaceous texture, and the Marsileacese in fruit. The
stems are rigid, leafy throughout their whole extent, not subterranean, but
upright or trailing along the ground, frequently to the distance of many feet,
and throwing out short, stiff, smooth radicles wherever they touch the soil. A
transverse section of the root shows the longitudinal ducts to be compressed
into an axis. In the stem they are arranged, as in the Ferns, into various cylin-
drical bundles, the centre of which -is filled with a cellular tissue, looser than the
remaining part ; the ducts in this order are flat spiral bands, minutely dotted.
The stomatse on the cuticle of the leaves are very abundant, the cuticle itself
being reticulated, not as in the Ferns, but into regular four-sided meshes.

The thecse are sessile, in the axils of the leaves, of two kinds, one two-celled,
opening at a longitudinal fissure, containing very fine smooth resinous grains,
which are supposed by most botanists to be pollen, but by Professor Lindley to be
abortive thecae. The other kind is three or four-valved, opening at a transverse
line, and contains from three to five round, slightly tuberculated grains, many
times larger than the preceding. That these are the true spores of the plant is
evident from their germination, and Willdenow says that he has seen the smaller
grains grow also ; if so, they likewise must be spores, but as they are so very
different in size and appearance, it is supposed that some mistake has arisen.
Mr. Salisbury, in vol. 12 of the u Linnsean Transactions, ” describes the germina-
tion of one species, which presents strange anomalies, throwing out a radicle and
plumelet, in a manner similar to the monocotyledonous plants, and yet appearing
immediately afterwards with two leaves, which he represents as cotyledons.

DISTRIBUTION. — “ The Lycopodiacese for the most part affect exposed
situations on open heaths, or the summits and sloping acclivities of mountains ;
although without altogether shunning more shady homes. L. selaginoides inclines
to the most humid situations, growing frequently in the crevices of dripping
rocks, about waterfalls, and in swampy ground, where water oozes from the sides
of hills. L. inundatum occurs in analogous situations, on lower or more southern
heaths and commons. The other four species choose drier dwelling places ; L.
selago and alpinum bearing the rude exposure of the mountain summits ; and
L. annotinum and clavatum being more frequent on the sloping acclivities than
on the summits ; but none of these four are exclusively restricted to such
situations. The order is pre-eminently boreal and alpine, only one species,

16

INTRODUCTION.

L. inundatum, being at all frequent in the low counties of the south-east of
England, and decreasing in abundance towards the northern and hilly counties ;
whilst all the rest prevail in the Scottish Highlands, and decrease in frequency in
a southward course.” — Mr. Watson's MS.

VIRTUES. — Seldom used in medicine, where safer drugs are attainable.
The Orkney Islanders use L. selago and clavatum as a cattle remedy ; it is said
to cure sheep of vermin and of different cutaneous disorders ; in the human
subject it is an emetic and purgative. The pollen is highly inflammable, and
was once imported in some abundance from Germany and Sweden to imitate
lightning at the theatres, but latterly powdered rosin has been substituted.
Lycopodium clavatum is said to be valuable in dyeing woollen cloths, and for
making mats it is admirable ; and the Poles make a decoction of its leaves as a
remedy for the disorder called Plica polonica. The pollen is wetted with so much
difficulty that when spread on the top of the water in a basin, a finger may be
plunged to the bottom without becoming wet.

EQUISETACE^E.

(Comprises only Equisetum.)

Equisetacea, Decan ., Ag., Kaulf., Lind., Hook., Grev., Brong.; — Gonopte-
rides, Willd. ;■ — Part of Filices, Miscellanea, &c., of Authors.

CLASS. — These plants differ widely from all those hitherto described, and
certainly approach very much nearer to flowering plants than Ferns themselves.
In fact their relation to the Coniferse is so strong, both in external and internal
structure, and their analogy with some other orders so apparent, that I continue
them among the Fern allies more in accordance with the opinion of others than
my own. Yet I cannot consider them Dicotyledonous plants, as Professor Lindley
has done, because their germination is essentially like that of the Cellulares, and
their reproductive organs have no analogy with those of flowering plants. In
fact, Equisetum forms a perfectly distinct order, and cannot be allied with any
other.

STRUCTURE. — The stems, which are partly beneath and partly above the
surface of the ground, are when young filled with very loose cellular tissue :
the moisture of this soon drying up, they become hollow. They are set at
intervals with joints, attended by toothed sheaths, are regularly channelled
or striated, rigid, and covered with fine particles of silex, particularly at the
ridges of the striae. The depressed part of each channel has two longitudinal
rows of minute holes or open pores, very different from the usual stomatae, and
much resembling the pores which Dr. Mohl, of Munich, represents as occurring
in the woody tissue of the Coniferae, now a well-known characteristic of that

INTRODUCTION.

17

order, and which it will be recollected there, as here, are arranged in longitudinal
lines. A transverse section of the stem shows that between the outer and inner
cuticle is a circle (and in Equisetum fluviatile two circles, alternating with
each other), of tubes, distinct from each other, but terminating at every joint
of the stem ; fresh tubes of a similar character being found at every other joint.
Around these tubes, and especially towards the outside of the whole stem, and
seated immediately under the cuticle, are the sap vessels of the plant, which
appear flat, spiral, perforated ducts, as in the other orders. The inner surface
of the stem is frequently more silicious than the outer, forming a very beautiful
object even to the naked eye. So abundant is this deposit in Equisetum
hyemale, that, after the vegetable matter has been removed by maceration, the
silex has been sufficiently abundant to retain the form of the plant. M. John,
of Berlin, states that the stems contain full 13 per cent, of silica. The following
interesting particulars of the silicious cuticle of Equisetum is given in Dr.
Greville’s excellent “ Flora Edinensis,” p. 214. “ On subjecting a portion of

the cuticle to the analysis of polarized light under a high magnifying power,
Dr. Brewster detected a beautiful arrangement of the siliceous particles, which
are distributed in two lines parallel to the axis of the stem, and extending over
the whole surface. The greater number of the particles form simple straight
lines, but the rest are grouped into oval forms, connected together like the
jewels of a necklace, by a chain of particles forming a sort of curvi-linear
quadrangle ; these rows of oval combinations being arranged in pairs. Many
of those particles which form the straight lines do not exceed the 500th part
of an inch in diameter. Dr. Brewster also observed the remarkable fact, that
each particle has a regular axis of double refraction. In the straw and chaff
of wheat, barley, oats, and rye, he noticed analogous phenomena, but the
particles were arranged in a different manner, and “ displayed figures of singular
beauty. ” From these data, the learned Doctor concludes, “that the crystalline
portions of silex, and other earths which are found in vegetable films, are not
foreign substances of accidental occurrence, but are integral parts of the plant
itself, and probably perform some important function in the processes of vege-
table life.” — Brewster , MS.

REPRODUCTION. — The reproductive organs are borne in a terminal
spike or catkin, composed of hexagonal or octagonal shields ; from each side
of which depend hollow, scale-like follicles, opening inwardly, and emitting
green, ovate spores, to each of which is attached four club-shaped filaments.
When the spores are immature, the filaments are twisted tightly round them,
but when ripe they become exceedingly elastic and hygrometrical, so much so,
that the irritability occasioned by a change of temperature or moisture, causes
the spores first to burst the thecse which bear them, and afterwards to scatter
themselves to a considerable distance.

A valuable paper upon the formation of the spores, by Mr. Henderson, was
read before the Linnsean Society, in June 1840 ; and will be found in their
“ Transactions,” vol. xviii. p. 567. The experiments of this gentleman exactly

18

INTRODUCTION.

confirm the above view, and give also the origin of the minute grains found
upon the elaters or elastic filaments ; from this paper, it appears, that when the
integument of the spore shows the spiral lines, which it will afterwards break
into the elaters, it contains a greenish colored fluid, mixed with some minute
granules. The spores then becomes darker, the granules increase, the liquid
is absorbed, leaving the granules which it contained sticking in masses to the
spores, and to the separated portions of the integument. It is these masses
of granules, when found adhering to the filaments in the ripened state of the
spore, that have been taken for pollen grains, and such the observations of
the author prove them to be. He says, (p.571) u On comparing these granules
with those contained in the unopened anthers of flowering plants, they appear
to me to be in every respect identical ; in the thecae they seem to occupy a
similar place with those in the cells of the anthers, and they decrease in like
manner during the progress to maturity of the pollen grain and of the spore.”

DISTRIBUTION. — “ Nearly equal in number with the Lycopodiaceae, the
plants included under this order contrast against them in their distribution.
Whilst the former are described in general terms as plants of the moors and
mountains, the Equisetaceae belong more especially to marshes, fields, and
woods. Both orders, or genera, are alike widely distributed through Britain ;
but whilst the Lycopodiums prevail high on the mountains, the Equisetums
are more abundantly bestowed upon the lower grounds, or the plains and
valleys ; the latter also evince more of a maritime, or even littoral tendency
than the Lycopodiums ; being often seen in abundance on and near the sea
shore.” — Mr. Watson’s MS.

USES. — They are harmless to cattle, but refused on account of their husky,
rigid texture. They are useless as medicines, but employed in the arts ; their
silicious cuticle rendering them valuable as polishing substances for marble,
wood, ivory, and even metals.

/

19

GENERA.

The rst order of the Ferns is conveniently divided into the sub-orders Nudce
and ndusiata , according as the sori are naked or covered with an indusium.
The arrangement of the species into Genera depends upon the shape and position
of the sori, together with the nature, the adherence, and the manner of opening
of the indusium when there is one. In the other orders the same principles are
adopted, as far as their structure will admit.

As the orders of the Fern Allies contain each but one British genus, the
characters of that genus are but a recapitulation of those of the order itself.

NXJDM.

Sori linear or oblong, scattered Grammitis.

Sori round, scattered Pqlypodium.

IND USIA TJE.

Indusium distinct from the Frond.

Sorus round. Indusium cleft into capillary segments . .

Sorus round. Indusium cucullate or bladder-shaped . .

Sorus round. Indusium peltate, either round or reniform

Sorus linear or oblong, transverse, solitary. Indusium
from lateral veins, opening towards the midrib

Sorus linear, transverse, in twin masses, lndusia folding
over each other, and opening outwardly.

Sorus linear, longitudinal, close to the midrib. lndusia '
opening outwardly

Woodsia.

ClSTOPTERIS.

Aspidium.

Asplenium.

ScOLOPENDRIUM.

Blechnum.

Cover part of the Frond itself reflexed.

Sorus linear, continued around the margin of the frond Pteris.

Sorus on transverse veins, near to the margin Cryptogramma.

Sorus in distinct spots, attached to the cover itself. ..... Adiantum.

Thecae in pitcher-shaped, one-valved receptacles Trichomanes.

Thecae in compressed, two-valved receptacles Hymenophyllum.

Thecae petioled, reticulated, terminating a leafy frond . . Osmunda.
Thecae sessile, smooth, in a separate compound spike . . Botrychium.
Thecae sessile, smooth, in a separate simple spike ...... Qphiogeossum.

Thecae attached to the root, free, and indehiscent Pilularia.

Thecae imbedded in the base of the leaves Isoetes.

Thecae of two kinds, axillary in a leafy spike, or stem.. Lycopodium.
Thecae of one kind, in catkins, terminating a leafless stem Egiuisetum.

FERNS.

20

[ Grcimmitis .

GRAMMITIS. Swz. GRAMMITIS.

aline; alluding to the linear fructification.)

A sJiows the under surface of the frond, of Grammitis Ceterach. B, the veins
according to Newman. C, the veins according to Presle. D, position of the fruit.
E, an unopened theca. F, a theca scattering its spores. G, the spores. II, a
scale. I, cuticle and stomatce. J, transverse section of the rachis.

GRAMMITIS CETERACH.

SCALY GRAMMITIS. SCALY HARx’s-TONGUE. MILTWAST.

(Plate I, fig. I.)

Cha.- — Frond pinnate or pinnatifid. scaly beneath. Lobes alter-
nate, confluent, blunt, entire.

Syn.— Grammitis ceterach, Swz., Hook., Mack. — Asplenium or ceterach,
Ger., Plum., Ray. — Asplenium ceterach, Linn., Huds., Sibt., Lightf,
Bolt., With., Spreng. — Gymnopteris ceterach, Bernh. — Scolopendrium
ceterach, Roth. Galp ., Smith. -—Ceterach officinarum, Willd. Decan .
Neivm.

¥ig.~E.B. 1244. — Park. 1046,/. l~Ger.97S.~Lohel, 807.— Bolt. 12 (bad).
Des. — Root perennial, fibrous, black, tufted. Fronds many from
the same root, herbaceous, 3 to 6 inches high, blunt, of a thick
texture, dark green above, covered with brown scales beneath.
Lobes confluent at their base, round, entire, alternate at the lower
part of the frond, flat only when young, afterwards curved inwards
towards the main rib, thereby exposing more the fructification.
Thecee all the summer, at first concealed by the scales, afterwards
bursting through them in oblong, transverse masses, without covers,
but surrounded by very delicate, white, membranous scales.

Sit. — On rocks, old walls, &c., chiefly in the South of England.

Hab. — Eng. : Near Lancaster, Mr. W. Wilson. Common about Settle, York-
shire, Mr. J. Tatham. On limestone rocks in Lath -kill -dale, Derb., Mr. J. E.
Bowman. On a wall at Newton, near Melbourne, Derbys., Rev. A. Bloocam.
Dovedale, Derby, Mr. T. S. Scholes. Walls at Ludlow, about the quarries,
Salop, Mr. J. S. Bayly. Old wall near Cowley, Oxon, Mr. Baxter. Wall at
Tocknells, near Painswick, Glou., Mr. Merrick. Martock, Somer., Mr. T. H.
Cooper. Stapleton Quarries, near Bristol, Mr. Anderson. Cheddar, Mr. W.
C. Trevelyan. Malvern Abbey, Mr. W. Christy. Bath, Mr. C. C. Babington.
On the tower of Old Alresford Church, Hants, Mr. Forder. Walls at Win-
chester, chiefly to the E. and N.E. of the City, Mr. W. Pamplin. Topsham and
elsewhere in Devon, Mr. Kingston. On the bridge over the Tamar, in the road

FIZZCS S'

pz^itz: I

FERNS.

21

Polypodium.]

from Callington to Tavistock, Jones's Tour. — Wal. : Denbighshire (rare), Mr.
J. E. Bowman. Walls of a ruin at Treborth, near Bangor, Mr. TV. Wilson. —
Ire.: Ruins of Saggard Church, Mr. Kelly. Walls near Cork, also near
Kilkenny, and in county Clare, Mr. MacTcay. Cave-hill, Mr. Templeton. Head-
ford, Galway, Mr. Shuttleworth.

Geo. — Holland, Spain, France, Switzerland, Nassau, Jena, Leipsic, and
other parts of Germany, the Tyrol, Sicily, and the Canary Islands.

POLYPODIUM, Linn. POLYPODY.

A, pinnule of natural size of Polypodium vulgare. B, magnified section of a
sorus. C, front view of ditto. D, longitudinal section of rachis. G, transverse
ditto. E, spiral perforated duct. F, vernation , rhizoma and rootlets. H, I,
theca and spore.

Sprengel enumerates no less than 250 species of this genus ; all of them are
herbaceous, some a few inches only , and others several feet in height. Inhabitants
of most parts of the world, particularly of the islands within the Tropics ; several
are found on the continent of America, and a few are confined to China. Only
four species are British*

1 .—POLYPODIUM VULGARE.

COMMON POLYPODY. POLYPODY OF THE OAK. WALL FERN.

(Plate 1, fig. 2.)

Cha. — Frond pinnatifid, lanceolate. Lobes oblong, obtuse,
somewhat serrated. Rachis smooth. Root hairy.

Syn. — Polypodium vulgare, Tourn., Ger., Park., Ray, Linn., Huds., Lightf. ,
Plum., Swz., Spreng., With., Smith, Hook., Mack., Gray, fyc.

Fig. — E.B. 1149. — Flo. Dan. 1060. — Woodv.Med. Bot. supp. 271.- — Ger.467.
— Bolt. 18. — Plu. Fil. t. A f. 2.

Des. — Root, or rather rhizoma, creeping horizontally, covered
with scales, and numerous stout, branched, hairy fibres, Rachis
quite smooth, yellow, void of lobes half way up. Frond from
G to 12 inches high, lanceolate, scarcely contracting below.
Lobes oblong, obtuse, and slightly serrated, sometimes wanting
the serratures, at others acuminate, while occasionally they are
found very much cut and divided. Sori naked, yellow, large,

* The number of species in a genus is always subject to variation, particularly in one so
extensive as Polypody, as newly-discovered plants are always adding to the number, while
different classification often divides one genus into many

22

FERNS.

j Polypodium .

prominent, and arranged in straight lines equally distant from the
margin and the midrib of the lobe ; each sorus terminating one of
the branches of a transverse vein. The plant is perennial and the
fruit found throughout the summer.

/3. (V. cambricum, Linn.) Frond ovate ; pinnule ovate, and deeply cleft.
y. ( sinuatum .) Frond ovate, or triangular ; pinnules proliferous.

£. (serratum.) Pinnules distinctly and often doubly serrated.

£. ( acuturn .) Pinnules pointed ; fronds long ; both narrow.

0. ( bifidum .) Pinnules cleft at the point.

Mr. Mackay remarks, in his “ Flora Hibernica,” that the Irish plant is some-
what different from the Polyp. Cambricum of Linnseus. It is in fact our variety
y, which is the same as the Pol. Virginianum of Pursh, and intermediate
between the usual state of the plant and the Cambricum ; it bears fruit copiously,
whereas the real Cambricum is usually without fruit, both in its wild and cul-
tivated state. We might expect this, indeed, from the feather-like appearance
of the plant, and the dilation of its lobes, a too great expansion of leaf being
here as elsewhere detrimental to the production of fruit. The foregoing observa-
tion was made in distinct reference to a frond, of which C in the annexed cut is
an exact representation ; but a plant still more nearly approaching Linnaeus’s
Pol. Cambricum is in Sir J. Smith’s herbarium, marked as fi'om Ireland. A
pinnule is represented in the Fig. D, copied from the original specimen, an ad-
mirable figure of the whole frond, as well as of the Cambricum is in “ Newman’s
Ferns,” p. 22. One pinnule of the latter is represented at B, and a whole frond
of it, from my herbarium, at A. The other varieties are shown at E F and G.

Vir. — Although still retained in the pharmacopoeias, it is scarcely, if at all,
used in medicine at the present day. It is feebly astringent, of a bitter and
nauseous taste, and has been considered efficacious in catarrhal disorders, and
against worms, in doses of from one to two drams of the dried root.

Hab. — The common states of the plant (co and ^,) are generally distributed
over the United Kingdom, on trees, walls, banks, and rocks. — (3. On the rocks
in some parts of North Wales, but without fruit. — Braid Hall, near Edinburgh,
Mr. Brown. At Chepstow, Monm., Sir J. E. Smith. — y. Woods at Dulwich
(1835), Mr. Saunders and Mr. W. Pamplin. South Isles of Arran (1806),
Mr. Made ay . In the Dargle, county of Wicklow, Miss Fitton. Innisfallen
Island, Killarney, Mr. Kelly. — South side of King’s Park, Edinburgh, Mr. Brown,
t. Rocks in North Wales, With. Meadows near Maldon, and other meadows
near Ewell, Surrey, Mr. J. Bevis. Cobham Park, Kent. — G.F.

Geo. —Found in most of the middle parts of Europe and North America.

Poly podium. ]

FERNS.

oo

£* O

2.— POLYPODIUM PHEGOPTERIS.

BEECH FERN. WOOD POLYPODY. SUN FERN.

(Plate 1, tig. 3.)

Cha. — Frond bipinnatifid. Lower pinnae deflexed. Lobes obtuse,
entire, hairy.

Syn. — Polypodium phegopteris of Linn., Willd., Swz., Spreng., Huds.,
Light/., Bolt, With., Smith, HooJc., Mack., Newm. — Polystichum
phegopteris, Roth . — Polypodium latebrosum, Gray , Salish.

Fig. — E.B. 2224. — Bolt., 20 (not good.) — Flo. Dan. 1241.

Des. — Root perennial, hairy, slender, creeping horizontally.
Frond triangular, herbaceous, erect, hairy, 6 to 12 inches high.
Pinnae opposite, very acute, adnate, the lower pair bent forwards,
pendulous, and distant from the pair next above them. The lobes
of all are obtuse, entire, and directed towards the point of the
pinna, particularly the two lowest, which with those on the opposite
pinna form a cross. The rachis is smooth, and without pinnae on
the lower half. Sori round, distinct, very small, brown, and seated
around the margin of the lobes.

The pendulous character of the lower pinnas, and the cruciform direction of
their bases are most apparent in vigorous plants, and serve as characters which
immediately distinguish this plant from its congeners.

Sit. — In moist woods and rocky dells, chiefly in mountainous countries.

Hab. — Eng. : Rocks at the foot of Cheviot, above Langley Ford, Mr. Winch.
Cawsey Dean, Durham, Mr R. B. Bowman. Around Keswick, Cumb., Mr.
H. C. Watson. Wensley-dale, Yorks., Mr. J. Ward. Common about Settle,
Yorks., Mr. J. Tatham. Prestwich Clough and Boghart Clough, Lancashire, Mr.
Merrick. Egerton Moss, near Bolton, Mr. W. Christy. Rocks at the Belle Hag,
one mile from Sheffield, G. F. Norwood, Surrey, and near Brentford, Middx.,
Mr. J. Bevis. Lidford Fall, Beckey Fall, Dartmoor, Devon, Jones’s tour. Isle
of Man, Mr. E. Forbes. — Wal. : Llanberris, first and second field towards
Snowdon, Mr. C. C. Babington. Capel Curig, North Wales, Mr. T. H. Cooper.
Frequent in Caern., not at any considerable elevation, Mr. W. Wilson. — Sco. :
Grampians, Aberdeensh., Red Caird Hill, W. of Invernesshire up to 1150 yds.
Forfarshire, Sutherland, Dumbarton, and other parts of the Highlands, Mr. H.
C . Watson. Moray, and Rosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Ben Lomond, Professor
Henslow. Ruberslaw, Jedburgh, &c. — Campsie, near Glasgow, Mr. T. H.
Cooper.- — Ire.: Powerscourt Waterfall, (right-hand side,) Mr. 0. Kelly. Water-
fall above Lough Eske. Co. of Donegal, and at other places in the northern
counties, Mr. Mackay.

Geo. — Throughout Germany, and indeed most European countries as far
North as Lapland, but not in the South countries. Linnseus received specimens
from Canada.

24

PERNS.

[ Poly podium .

3.— POLYPODIUM DRYOPTERIS.

TENDER THREE-BRANCHED POLYPODY.

(Plate 1, fig. 4.)

Cha. — Frond tri-pinnate, tender. Branches drooping. Lobes
obtuse, crenate. Sori distinct.

Syn. — Polypodium dryopteris of Linn., Willd L, Swz., Ehrh., Huds., Bolt.,
Light/., Hull., Gulp., With., Newn., Smith , Hook., Grev., Mack. — Poly-
podium Pulchellum, Gray. Polystichum Dryopteris, Roth.

Fig. — E.B. 616 (excellent) —Bolton, 28 (had.) — Gerard, 974.-— Park. 104 4.

Des. — -Root perennial, creeping, black, slender, slightly hairy.

Fronds herbaceous, scattered, tender, drooping, smooth., and of a

light green color. The three branches (of which the middle may be

considered a continuation of the stem) are bent backwards, and

doubly pinnate, Lobes crenate, oblong, obtuse. Main stem 6 to 8

inches long below the branches, quite smooth, except at the very

base. Sori nearly marginal, scattered, remaining perfectly distinct.

Sit.— Dry stony places, chiefly in mountainous countries of the north.

Hab. — Eng. : Rocks at the foot of the Cheviot, above Langley Ford, Mr.
Winch. Wooded banks of the White Adder, between the Retreat and Elm
Cottage, Berwickshire, Dr. Johnston. Durham, Mr. R. B. Bowman. Near
Yoxhall Lodge, in Needwood Forest, StafFordsh., Mr. C. C. Babington. Cum-
berland, up to 500 yards of elevation, Mr. H. C. Watson. Higher part of the
Tees, Mr. J.Hogg. Egerton Moor, near Bolton, Mr. W. Christy. Dean Church,
Clough, near Bolton, Mr. J. Martin. Dry places near Lancashire, (sparingly),
at Hill Cliff, Cheshire, and at Warrington, Mr. Rylands. Boghart Hole Clough,
and Prestwich Clough, Lane., Mr. Merrick. Rocks at the Belle Hag, Sheffield,

G. F. Froddesley Hill, Salop, Rev. W. Corbett. N. side of Titterstone Clee
Hill, Salop, Mr. E. Lees. Near Richmond, Yorks., Mr. J. Ward. Near Bristol,
Miss Worsley. — Wal. : Craig Breidden, Montgomerysh., Mr. J. E. Bowman.
Rhaiadr-y-Wenol-Twll Du, Caernarvonsh., Mr. C. C. Babington. Frequent in
N. Wales, and observed near Twll Du at an elevation of 1000 feet and upwards,
Mr. W. Wilson. Just leaving Llangollen, on a slate rock, Mr. W. Wilson and
Mr. Bowman. — Sco. : Moray, Rossh., G. Gordon. Perthshire, Forfarshire,
Aberdeenshire, Mr. H. C. Watson. Hawthorn Dean, near Edinburgh, Mr. 7\

H. Cooper. — Ire. : On the mountains of Mourne, Turk Mountain, Killarney,
Mam-turk, Cunnamara, Tullamore Park, &c., Mr. Mackay.

Geo.— Throughout great part of Europe and North Asia.

4.— POLYPODIUM CALCAREUM.

RIGID THREE-BRANCHED POLYPODY. LIME POLYPODY,

(Plate 1, fig. 5.)

Cha. — Frond tri-pinnate, rigid. Branches upright. Lobes ob-
tuse, deeply crenate.

Poly podium,]

FERNS,

25

Syn. — Polypodium calcareum, Swz ., Willd., Smith, Hook., Purl., Galp .—
Polypodium dryopteris, Bolt., Dicks. — Polypodium dryopteris j3,

With., 2nd. edit. Polypodium Robertianum, Hoffm. — Nephrodium

dryopteris, Michx.

Fig. — -E.B., \b25.—Bolt. 1 .— Ger. 1135.

Des. — This is so similar to the last, that when dried they are
scarcely to be distinguished, hence, the doubt of their claim as
distinct species ; but when growing, the eye will instantly see the
difference between the two. The P. calcareum is known from its
root being thicker and less creeping, its frond rather larger in size,
much more rigid, quite upright, and of a dark green color ; its lobes
more deeply cut, and stem more scaly towards the base, and on the
upper part sprinkled over with fine white minute hairs ; its sori are
browner and more numerous. The minute pubescence seen on this
species is most observable on luxuriant and fresh plants. It is, I
believe, a constant and decided character, in which opinion I am
supported by Mr. Wilson and Mr. Babington, than whom few are
better able to form a correct judgment. The latter gentleman ob-
serves, that the microscope shows every particle of this pubescence
or mealiness to be a minute, stalked gland.

Mr. Newman, in his beautifully-illustrated book on Ferns, blends this with
the former species ; yet his figures show strongly-marked differences. Both of
us no doubt argue according to our respective means of observation ; and after
a very careful re-examination of both the species in my own and Sir J. Smith’s
herbarium, and also as growing in Kew Gardens, I see no reason to alter a single
word in the above descriptive characters. Whether the size of the two be of
moment is the only thing which appears of little certainty ; but the rigid erect
habit, and dark color are very characteristic, even without noticing the pubescence,
indeed, whatever doubt I may have of the distinctness of certain others of the
Ferns, I cannot for an instant consider the present and former species identical ;
let it be observed, however, that in the case of these, as well as some other species,
the same herbarium often contains but the commoner plant, which is the P.
dryopteris, yet some of the specimens may be under the name of P. calcareum,
and too often does it happen, that the receiver of a specimen, taking for granted
that such is correctly named, makes it a guide for his own future judgment, and
thus an error becomes perpetuated.

Hab. — Arncliff and Gordale, Yorks., Mr. R. B. Bowman. Near Lancaster,
Mr. Gibson. Sheddin Clough, three miles from Burnley, Lane., Mr. Ley land.
Common about Settle, Yorks., Mr. J. Tatham. Matlock Bath, Derbys., Dr.
Howitt. Road-side under the Lover’s Leap, near Buxton, Derbys., Mr. H. C.
Watson. Cheddar Cliffs, Somers., Mr. W. Christy. Box Quarries, near Bath,
Mr. Flower. Not found in either Scotland or Ireland.

Geo. — Recorded by Pursh and Michaux as occurring throughout North
America from Canada to Pennsylvania, and no doubt this is correct, as the
description of Pursh so exactly accords with our plant ; though Swartz says that
it is found in England only.

E

FERNS,

l Wood si a.

26

WOODSIA, Br. HAIR-FERN.

(Named in honor of Mr. J. Woods, an English Botanist.)

A, portion of a frond of Woodsia Ilvensis, natural size. B, ditto enlarged .
C, sorus longitudinally divided. D, indusium. E, one portion of ditto. F?
scale. G, theca. H, spores.

Mr. Brown first separated from the Polypodiums,Sfc., this very distinct genus,
which contains only two British and four foreign species , all very small plants ,
and natives of mountainous regions. The indusium , if such it can he called , is
very singular and beautiful : it is attached under the mass of thecce — inclosing
them at first in a hag , it then becomes split into numerous segments, which look
like hairs interspersed with the thecae, and were so considered until Mr. Brown
showed their true nature in “ Trans. Linn. Soc.” vol. xi.

WOODSIA ILVENSIS.

OBLONG WOODSIA. HAIRY WOODSIA. DOWNY HAIR-FERN.

(Plate 1, fig. 6, A.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate, oblong, scaly. Pinnae oblong, blunt,
deeply cut, crenate.

Syn. — Woodsia Ilvensis, Brown, Smith, Hook., Spreng. — Polypodium Ilvense,
Swz., Willd., Schk. — Acrostichum Ilvense, Linn., Huds., Ehrh.—
Polypodium Arvonicum of With., in description but not in references.*

Fig.-— E. B. Sup>p. 2616. — Flo. Dan. 391. — Pluk. Phyt. 281, fig. 4, {good.)

Des. — Root perennial, tufted, black, smooth. Fronds numerous,

1 to 4 inches high, covered with capillary, brownish- white scales.
Rachis scaly ; the lower third of it without pinnae, the upper two-
thirds containing six to eight pairs, placed nearly opposite to each
other. Larger pinnae cut into from four to six blunt segments on
each side. Sori scattered, convex, consisting of five or six roundish
thecae. Cover torn into a few capillary divisions.

Mr. Sowerby observes, that the capillary segments of the indusium are not
so numerous as in the next species, and the thecae more spherical. The plant
cultivated and formerly sold at the London nurseries, under the name of Woodsia
Ilvensis, is Notholsena distans, a plant in every respect different from ours, which
is much smaller, and less white and downy than that New Holland species.

Sit. — On rocks in mountainous countries.

Hab.— Higher parts of the Tees, Mr. J. Hogg. Rocks, (near where Oxytropis
campestris grows,) between Glen Dole and Glen Phee, in the Glova Mountains,

* I cannot refer to Withering' s Polypodium Arvonicum and Ilvense with certainty, as his
description of these two plants is very obscure and far from characteristic.

Woodsia .]

FERNS.

27

Forfarshire, at 550 yards of elevation, Mr. H. C. Watson, (from which station
it is larger than the Welsh plant.) On the Basaltic Rocks, called Falcon Clints,
near Caldron Spout, Teesdale, Mr. R. B. Bowman. Glydes-vawr, near
Lyn-y-cwm, Mr. Winch. Last seen in July, 1836, by Mr. W. Wilson.

Geo. — Found in different parts of Germany, as on the Alps of Salzburg and
Carinthia, the Giant and Hartz Mountains, &c. In Sweden, Norway, and
the Isle of Elba or Ilva, (whence the name Ilvensis ;) also in Italy, Siberia, and on
the Pyrenees. Pursh says from Canada to Virginia, but it may be much doubted
if our plant be here indicated.

WOODSIA HYPERBOREA.

ROUND-LEAVED WOODSIA.

(Plate 1, fig. 6, B.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate, oblong, nearly smooth. Pinnae triangular,
blunt, deeply crenate.

Syn. — Woodsia hyperborea, Br., HooJc., Smith, E. FI., Galp. — -Acrostichum
Alpinum, Bolt. — Ceterach Alpinum, Lam., Decan. — Polypodium hyper-
boreum, Swz., Willd., Spreng., Smith in E. B.

Fig. — E. B. 2023.-— Bolt. 42. — “ Linn. TransD vol. xi.— Pluk. Phyt. 89,/. 5.

Des. — Root perennial, fibrous, black, tufted, and very long, giving
rise to many oblong fronds, from 2 to 4 inches high. Lower
part of the stem covered with light brown capillary scales. Eight
or ten pairs of pinnae, only the two or three lower pairs opposite,
and these not constantly so, all nearly smooth, bluntly triangular,
deeply crenate, or cut into two or three segments on each side. The
upper half of each pinna larger than the other, and in luxuriant
specimens cut into lobes near the stem. Sori from six to ten on
each pinna, placed near the edge, light brown, very large, and often
confluent.

From the very numerous segments of the indusium, a sorus appears like a
bunch of hairs. The discriminating character is, however, chiefly the less cut,
shorter, and more alternate pinnae. The plant known as Woodsia hyperborea
by gardeners is in reality a large variety of Woodsia Ilvensis, known as such
before the separation of the present from that species.

Sit. — Found only on the highest rocks and mountains of Wales and Scotland,

Hab.— -Ben Lawers, Dr. Murray and Mr. W. Wilson. Clova Mountains,
Mr. G. Don. Craig Chailleach, Perthsh., Mr. Maughan. Mael Ghyrdy, Perthsh.,
and on Snowdon, below Bwlch-y-Saeth (Clowwyn-y-Garnedd), at an elevation of
2500 feet and upwards, very sparingly, Mr. W. Wilson. Mr. C. C. Babington,
says, “ I was not able to find this plant on Glydr Fawr, Caernarvonshire, July
1835, although in company with J. Roberts, Esq., of Bangor, who knew its
station well. It is, I fear, exterminated in that placed’ I searched for it in the
same spot in 1837, and a botanical friend in 1840, but both without success.

Geo.' — Lapland, Germany ? France ? (Swz.) Lulea, in Lapland (Spreng.)
Canada, and high mountains of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

28

FERNS.

[Cistopteris .

CISTOPTERIS, Bern. BLADDER-FERN.

(mo-log, a bladder, xdltpig, a fern ; the indusiums being like bladders.)

A, one of the pinnae of the frond of Cistopteris fragilis. B, a lobe magnified „
L, young sori and indusia. D, sorus cut transversely. E, theca . F, seed. G,
indusium magnified from Bauer' s il Genera Filicum.” H, ditto from Schott’s
u Genera Filicum .”

The genus is distinguished by its indusiums being inflated like bags, not being
attached by a central column, but only by the edge nearest this rachis, and
finally, either quite bent back or thrown off altogether. They first open on the
top, or on the side nearest the apex of the frond or pinna.

1. —CISTOPTERIS DENTATA.

TOOTHED BLADDER FERN .

(Plate 2, fig. 1 .)

Cha.— — Frond bipinnate, oblong, lanceolate. Pinnae ovate,
lanceolate. Pinnules ovate, obtuse, crenate. Sori distinct.

Syn.— Cystea dentata, Eng. Flo. — Cyathea dentata, Eng. Bot., Dav. W.Bot .
Galp. — Polypodium dentatum, Dicks., With., Hull. — Aspidium dent.,
Swz., Willd., Hook, in FI. Sco., Decan. — Athyrium dentatum, Gray.

Fig .—E.B.. 1588 .—Pluk. Phyt. 179, f. 5 (a cultivated specimen). — Bolt 27.

Des.— Root tufted, black, fibrous. Fronds numerous, oblong,
lanceolate, 6 to 9 inches high, herbaceous. Stem slender, smooth,
green except at the lower part, winged near the apex, without
pinnae for one -third of its height, above this bearing about fourteen
pairs, opposite to each other. Pinnae ovate, blunt, length twice
their width, their main rib winged. Pinnules about ten pairs in the
larger pinnae, decurrent, ovate, obtuse, crenate or toothed, very
rarely cut into distinct lobes, unless in luxuriant specimens, when
the frond becomes wider, the pinnules very deeply cut, and some-
times petioled, but never losing their ovate, roundish, blunt form.
Sori scattered, and always remaining distinct ; Sir J. E. Smith says
confluent, but this does not agree with any of my specimens, though
probably in hot weather they may be found so.

Our plant Cistopteris dentata is to be known from every state of Cistopteris
fragilis, in the shape of its frond and pinnules, which in this are very much
blunter, rounder, and less divided ; its rachis also is shorter and less brittle, and
the whole smaller than the next species.

fmm

ftzic.es jpzzltjeji

FERNS*

29

Cistopteris.]

Sit. — On rocks in the north of England and Wales ; also in Scotland.

Hab. — Ben Lawers, Perthshire, Mr. R. Maugham. Cader Idris, and on rocks
near Wrexham, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Rocks near Barmouth, Mr. Purton. Snow-
don, Mr. C. C. Bahington. Craig Breidden, Montgomerysh., Rev. A. Bloxam.
Castle Dinas, Mr. W. Leighton. Common about Settle, Mr, J. Tatham, and Mr.
Chorley. ft. On lofty hills in the North, Sir J. E. Smith. Near Llanberris,
Caern., Mr. Lloyd. Cordale, in Craven, Mr. Curtis. Downton, in Herefords.,

Geo. — Common in Germany, Switzerland, Dauphiny, Prussia, Holland,
Verona, &c.

2. -—CISTOPTERIS FRAGILIS.

BRITTLE BLADDER FERN.

(Plate 2, fig. 2.)

Cha.—— Frond twice-pinnate, lanceolate. Pinnae lanceolate.
Pinnules ovate, pointed, deeply cut, toothed, decurrent.

Syn. — Cystea fragilis, E. FL— Cistopteris fragilis, Hook. in Br. FI., Mactc.,
Bernh. — Aspidium fragile, Swz., Hook, in FI. Sco., Willd., Grev., Lightf. —
Polypodium fragile, With., Linn., Huds., Bolt., Hoffm., Ehrh., Dick. — Cyathea
fragilis, Roth, Smith in E. B., 8fc. Galp. — Cyclopteris fragilis, Schrad., Gray.

Fig.—E. B. 1587— Bolt. 45-46.— Flo. Dan. 401.

Des.— -Root black, fibrous, and tufted. Fronds numerous, de-
ciduous, bright green, from 6 to 1 2 inches high, twice-pinnate, lan-
ceolate, pointed, and finely tapering towards the apex. Rachis very
brittle and shining, of a dark brown or black color on the lower part,
and quite smooth, except a tuft of scales at the very base. Pinnse
opposite, pointed, about twenty pairs, confined to the upper half
of the rachis, and growing nearly at right angles to it, Their length
more than twice their width, except the lower pair, which are also
distant from the next above them. Pinnules alternate, acute,
deeply lobed, crenate or bluntly acute, decurrent and tapering
more or less at the base. Sori numerous, confluent, black when
young, afterwards a shining brown, and found throughout the
summer. Indusium white, with an irregular margin, and soon
obliterated or thrown off by the growing thecse.

In general habit resembling the last species, but instantly to be distinguished
by the shape of the frond, which is sharper and longer pointed, as is also the case
with the pinnae and pinnules ; the whole is also much more divided, all the larger
pinnules being cleft, and not merely toothed, as in every state of Cistopteris
dentata. The stem is also darker, longer, and more brittle, and the sori so
numerous as soon to become confluent.

No Ferns are more altered by circumstances than this genus, hence the difficulty
of distinguishing the species. The varieties, however, are not distinct in them-
selves, as they may all sometimes be found upon the same plant, and different
seasons produce differently- shaped and more finely- divided fronds. For example,
those which arise in ordinary seasons alone answer the above description ; a cold

30

FERNS,

[Cistopteris.

spring occasions barren fronds, the pinnules of which are rounded, delicate, wide,
crenate, and running much into each other, while long- continued drought or warm
weather occasions those fronds which arise in summer to be much smaller, much
yellower, more entire, and the sori more crowded. In the extreme state it may
be described as follows Frond linear, oblong. Pinnse blunt, pinnate, ovate or
round, toothed, quite covered with sori. If the summer continue very wet and
cold, the fronds do not take the above character, but have broader and darker
colored pinnules ; in this case exactly resembling the cultivated Cistopteris
dentata, except in the shape of the frond itself.

/3. ( angustata .) Frond oblong, ovate. Pinnse ovate, pointed.

Cyathea angustata, E. B, and E.F . — Polypodium rhseticum, DicJc., Bolt. —
Aspidium rhseticum, Willd.-— By no means the Polypodium rhseti. of
Linnceus , nor the Polypodium tenue of Hoffm., which is the Aspidium
intermedium of modern authors.

Very distinct as a variety, not a species. It differs from the usual state of the
plant only in a rather larger and broader frond, with pinnules doubly toothed and
slightly pointed.

Sit. — On alpine rocks and other lofty situations.

Hab.—Eng. : Near Richmond, Yorks., Mr. J.Ward. About Settle, Yorks.,
Mr. J. Tatham. Cumberland, Ruins of Peveril Castle, Castleton, and the Lover’s
Leap, near Buxton, Derbys., Mr. H. C. Watson. Matlock, Derbys., Dr. Howitt.
Cheddar, Somers. ,B Mr. W. C. Trevelyan. Nottinghamsh., Mr. T. H. Cooper.
Near Bristol, Miss Worsley. At Exwick, near Exeter, Mr. Jacob. — Wal. : Cave
at Clogwyn Coch, Snowdon, and rocks above Cwn Idwel, near Twll Du, Mr. W.
Wilson. Near Wrexham, Denbighsh., Mr.J.E. Bowman. — Sco. : Aberdeen-
shire, Mr. H. C. Watson. Moray and Rosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Near Maens,
Berwicksh., Rev. A. Baird. Sutherland and the Kincardineshire Coast, Dr.
Murray. Near Killin, Mr. W. Wilson. — Ire.: Rocks and mountains of Kerry,
Mr. Mackay. Lough Inn, and Lough Derryclare, Cunnemara, Mr. Shuttleworth.

Geo. — Common in Germany, Saxony, Switzerland, Holland, &c.

3.— CISTOPTERIS ALPINA.

ALPINE BLADDER-FERN. L ACINIATED BLADDER-FERN .

(Plate 2, fig. 3.)

Cha. — Frond tri-pinnate, ovate, lanceolate. Pinnules ovate,
blunt. Segments linear, obtuse, toothed.

Syn. — Cistopteris alpina, Hook. in. Br. Fl.,Desv. — Cistopteris regia, Bernh. —
Cyathea incisa, Smith in E. Bot., Galp. — Cyathea alpina, Roth. — Cystea
regia, Smith in E. FI. Sf FI. Br. — Polypodium regium, Linn., Hull. —

Polypodium trifidum, With. Polypodium alpinum, Jacq., Schk. —

Athyrium alpinum, Spreng. — Athyrium regium, Gray. — Aspidium

alpinum, Swz. Willd., Hook, in FI. Sco.

Fig,— E. B. 163. — Jacq. Icon. vol. 3 t. 742. — Seguier PI. Veron. supp . 1, 3.

Des Root black, fibrous, tufted. Frond tri-pinnate, ovate, or

ovato-lanceolate, herbaceous, 2 to 6 inches high. Pinnse about
ten or twelve pairs, set rather alternately, except the lower pair,
their length not above twice their width. Larger pinnules broadly

Aspidium.}

FERNS.

31

ovate, or wedge-shaped, repeatedly cut into broad linear segments.
Sori small, scattered, seated nearly at the apex of the segments.
Margin of the indusium entire.

These marks clearly indicate this to be a distinct species, far removed from
both the others, and in cultivation instead of approaching the fragilis or
dentata, it becomes yet more different, as the pinnules increase in length, but
scarcely in width, as in the former cases. In general habit our present species
is by far the tenderest and most numerously cleft, with a shorter and less
brittle rachis than Cistopteris dentata or fragilis.

The late Professor Don thought the Cistopteris regia and Cistopteris alpina to
be essentially different, but Sir W. J. Hooker speaks confidently of the Layton
plant being precisely the same as that represented by Jacquin and Schkuhr, which
are the same as the alpina of Don ; and as our plant at the present time has the
wedge-shaped pinnules, said by Mr. Don, to be peculiar to the Cistopteris regia,
we are bound to conclude that formerly, when the plant was vigorous, it took one
character, and now that it is but struggling for existence it assumes the other.
Indeed luxuriant plants lately received from Low Layton, though the kindness of
Mr. E. H. Bulton, who gathered it as lately as 1840, confirm to me the accuracy
of Sir W. J. Hooker’s view upon the subject. Mr. W. Pamplin, of Queen Street,
Soho, an indefatigable botanist, is the re-discoverer of this plant, and kindly
furnished me with specimens gathered in 1835. The first account we have of the
plant as British is by Mr. Forster, in Symon’s “ Synopsis,” published in 1793.

Hab. — Wall at Low Layton, Essex, 1836, Mr. W. Pamplin. Caernarvonsh,
Mr. J. E. Bowman. Cwm Idwel, Mr. Griffiths. On Snowdon, near the
Copper Mine, Mr. Winch. Ben Lawers, Mr. Maughan. Rocks at the Dropping
Well, Knaresborough, Mr. W. Christy.

Geo.— Jena, Oldenburgh, and other parts of Germany, Italy, &c.

ASPIDIUM, Swz. SHIELD FERN.

(acrzvi;. a shield ; the indusium being of this form.)

A, pinnules of Aspidium lonchitis. B, portion of ditto , showing the fruit
magnified. C, transerve section of a sorus. D. ditto of the stem. E, scale
magnified. F, theca and spore.

A widely -distributed and extensive genus, of not less than from 160 to 170
species , all of them herbaceous, some evergreen, others deciduous. The indusium
is either reniform and fixed at the sinus, when they belong to the genus Nephro-
dium of Brown, or else orbicular and peltate, ivhich is the true character of
Aspidium. The greater number of the British Aspidia somewhat differ from the

* Mr. W. Wilson writes me, that the Welch stations refer to Cistopteris fragilis. I have also
received Cistopteris dentata from Craig Breidden, under the name of Alpina.

32

FERNS.

[. Aspidium .

true character of the genus , as their indusiums, though orbicular , have a deep
lateral notch , which occasions them to appear somewhat reniform , and hence also
they in some degree cease to be peltate ; but the variation is not so great as to
render it advisable to separate them into two genera.

1. —ASPIDIUM LONCHITIS.

ROUGH ALPINE SHIELD-FERN.

(Plate 2, fig. 4.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate. Pinnae lunate, bristly- serrate. Rachis scaly.

Syn.- — Aspidium lonchitis, Swz., Willd., Hook.. Smith , Mack., Gulp., Spreng.,
Schk. — Aspidium asperum, Gray. — Polypodium lonchitis, Linn., Bolt. , With.,
Huds., Light/. — Polystichum lonchitis, Roth., Decan., Hojfm., Newm.

Fig .~E. B. 797. — Bolt. 19. — Flo. Dan. 497.— Park. 1042. — Ger. 979.

Des.— Root tufted, black, fibrous. Fronds 6 to 12 inches high,
numerous, dark green, arranged in a circle around the crown of the
root, very rigid, not growing upright, but generally half decumbent,
forming a flat, cup-shaped plant. Rachis scaly, clothed with pinnae
nearly to its base. The pinnae are numerous, crowded, stalked, al-
ternate, smooth above, slightly scaly beneath, crescent- shaped, with
an auricle on the upper side of the base of each, serrated, with the
serratures ending in a bristle, that part of the pinna above its midrib
much larger than the lower portion, in position rather declining and
bent forwards, so that they very often approach those on the opposite
side of the rachis, the back of the frond being outwards. Sori
confined to the upper third of the frond, arranged in single rows,
black or brown, and very large. Cover orbicular, notched, attached
at the centre, and soon becoming shrivelled.

Sir J. E. Smith says, that “ this plant dwindles rather than becomes luxuriant
when cultivated,” as it often is on rock-work, &c., forming a curious, rigid, and
pretty plant, not in any way altered from its original characteristics, except
becoming less spinous. The American is more spinous than our plant.

Hab. — In situations above 1000 yards, probably 1100 yards above the sea
level, on the Breadalbane mountains, Perthshire, and plentiful almost every where
in the Highland valleys, and on the declivities of the mountains. Scarce in
England, nor have I ever seen it here. Craig Chailleach, Perths., and Clova
mountains, Forfarsh., Mr. H. C. Watson. Falcon Clints, near Cauldron Spout,
Teesdale, Mr.R. B. Bowman. Glen Isla, Forfarsh., Mr. W. Brand. Aberdeen-
shire, Dr. Murray. Moray and Rosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Base of Benmore,
Sutherland, Dr. Johnston. Very large in Glen Fee, Mr. W. Wilson. Clogwyn-y-
Garnedd, Snowdon, Mr. C. C. Babington. Higher part of the Tees, Mr. J. Hogg.
Common about Settle, Yorks., Mr. J. Tatham. — Ire.: In a glen E. of Lough
Eske, Donegal ; and on Glenade Mountain, Leitrim, Mr. E. Mackay. Brandon
Mountain, Mr. W. Wilson.

Geo. — Silesia, Bavaria, the Tyrol, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, and the
Aleutian Islands.

Aspidium. ]

FERNS.

33

2.— ASPIDIUM LOBATUM.

CLOSE-LEAVED, PRICKLY SHIELD-FERN.

(Plate 2, fig. 5.)

Cha. — Frond bipinnate. Lobes decurrent, spinulose, elliptical,
that next the rachis very large.

Syn. — Aspidium lobatum, Swz., Gray, Willd., Schk., Smith, Hook, in Bri.
FI., not in Flo. Scot., Forst., Galp., Mack. — Polypodium lobatum,
FLuds. — Polypodium aculeatum, Bolt., With.

Fig. — E. B. 1563.— Bolt., 26,/*, 1, ( afull-grovm ,) f. 2 (a young plant.)

Des. — Root tufted. Fronds growing from a circle, rigid, glaucous
green, from 15 inches to 2 feet high, evergreen, perfectly ovate.
Lower pinnae crowded, so as to overlap each other; sometimes,
however, the frond is elongated at the lower part, when the pinnae
are proportionably distant. Rachis stout, scaly, and with pinnae
to the very base. Pinnae short, alternate, lanceolate, pointed, and
curved upward, therefore somewhat lunate. Smaller pinnules run-
ning much into each other, the larger slightly auricled, decurrent,
and that next the rachis so much larger than the rest as to project
over its next neighbour, and also partly to conceal the base of the
pinna next above it ; the inner edge of all the larger lobes running
parallel to the rachis, and at a little distance from it, so that if held
up, a line of light will appear on each side of the rachis, except near
the base, where the first lobes are set very close to the main stem,
whence perhaps its name of close-leaved. Sori large, in single rows,
confined to the top of the frond. Cover orbicular, fixed by the
centre, persistent, but easily knocked off.

ft ( lonchitidoides .) Pinnules combined, forming nearly a pinnate frond.
Filix lonchitidi affinis, Ray. A. aculeatum fi, Smith in E. FI. A. lobatum,
Hook, in Br. FI. Fig. — Pluk, Phyt, t. 180, f. 3. (good.)

This species is distinguished from the following, for which alone it can be taken,
by the decurrent lobes ; and as Sir J. E. Smith very rightly observes, <£ by the
much shorter, more crowded, and less scaly pinnae.’ ’ Added to which, the lobes
are more entire, being but slightly auricled, very convex, thick, and of a glaucous
color, furnished with a less number of and smaller bristly serratures, sometimes
wanting them entirely at the sides. The sori also are more confined to the top of
the frond, and larger than in A. aculeatum. The variety lonchitidoides is not
very scaly, and in form and size exactly intermediate between this species and
A. lonchitis.

Sit. — On shady banks and damp hedge rows, chiefly in the north.

Hab. — Extremely common in Scotland and in the north of England,
gradually losing itself towards the south, and becoming more and more inter-
mingled with A. aculeatum, which in its turn is superseded still more southernly
by A. angulare. In the middle and south of England, its recorded habitats are

34

FERNS.

: Aspidium .

Leicestershire, Rev. A. Bloxam. Common about Settle, Yorksh., Mr. J. Tatham.
Pottery Car, near Doncaster, Mr. S. Appleby. Matlock, Derbysh., Dr. Howitt.
At Studley, Sambourne, Overley, and Weatherly, Warwicksh., Rev. W. Bree.
Lane leading to the Vache from Chalfont, Bucks, Mr. A. Halley. Near Bristol,
Miss Worsley. Near Dorking, Surrey ; in Hants, &c. Mr. W. Pamplin. Near
Yarmouth, Mr. Paget. Sussex and S. Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. Wal, : Near
Wrexham, Denbigh, Mr. J. E. Bowman. — Ire. : Collinglen, near Belfast, Mr.
J. Templeton. Hermitage, County Wicklow, Dr. Osborne. County of Derry,
Mr. D. Moore. ft Glen Fee, Clova Mountains, Mr. W. Wilson. Braid Woods,
near Edinburgh, Mr. H. Cooper .

Geo. —Germany, Switzerland, &c.

3. — ASPIDIUM ACULEATUM.*

COMMON PRICKLY SHIELD-FERN.

(Plate 2, fig. 6.)

Cha, — Frond bipinnate, broadly lanceolate. Lobes petioled,
ovate, distinctly auricled, aristate. Rachis scaly.

Syn. — Aspidium aculeatum, Swz., Willd., Hook, in B. FI. ed. 4, Smith ,
Galp., Mack., Gray. — Aspidium lobatum, Hook . in FI. Scot., Schk. —
Polypodium aculeatum, Linn., Huds ., Lightf., Ehrh. — Polystichum
aculeatum, Roth., Decan.

Fig. -—12.1?. 1562 .—Pluk. Phyt., 180 f. 1. {not good.)

Des. — Root tufted. Fronds numerous, perfectly lanceolate,
evergreen, bipinnate. Pinnae alternate, gradually tapering, close
together, their midribs covered with hair-like scales. Lobes ovate,
distinctly petioled, serrate, spinulose, and with an auricle on the upper
side at the base of each ; that next the rachis larger than the rest,
but not so much so as in the last species ; all remaining distinct from
each other nearly to the point of the pinna, although sometimes so
crowded as to overlap. Rachis clothed with pinnae to its base, and
very scaly. Sori distinct, brown, small. Cover orbicular, fixed by
its centre, soon withering.

* As many gentlemen, distinguished for their botanical knowledge, consider the Aspid. aculea-
tum and A. angulare as distinct species, it is necessary that I should state the reasons why I have
blended these two plants together. I have not been guided by any desire of innovation, believing
unsteadiness of nomenclature and of classification to be the bane of science, but because after
the most careful examination of specimens from all parts of GreatBritain where they grow, and
after consulting all the most celebrated practical botanists that I have the honor to be acquainted
with, I have found it absolutely impossible to draw the line of demarcation 'between the plants.
To delineate extreme states of any variable plant is easy enough, but where there is so regular
a gradation from the robust pointed pinnules to the blunt and delicate ones, the difficulties of
discrimination are insurmountable. Also, upon writing to various gentlemen for specimens and
habitats, I have received the same plant repeatedly under the two names, and it is very re-
markable that the habitats received invariably refer to both varieties, though they have not
always been received from the same person. Thus Dr. Johnston says, that both grow at Pease
Bridge, Berwickshire; Mr. Bowman says of Aculeatum, near Richmond, Yorkshire; while
Mr. J. Tatham notes the same place as a station for the Angulare. Thus doubts arise if the
same or different plants are indicated, The name Angulare appears, however, by far the more
commonly given to it, and I should for this reason have preferred it to Aculeatum, in deference
to the opinion of my countrymen ; but foreigners give the name Angulare to an Hungarian Fern
very different from ours, and as Aculeatum is the specific name of all authors who have
combined the two Ferns, and is besides more expressive, I have adopted it.

FERNS.

35

Aspidium. j

This plant vai'ies much in the sharper or blunter shape of the lobes of the leaves,
for which reason it is sometimes extremely difficult to decide if a frond be of this
species or the former. Luxuriant plants assume much the appearance of Lobatum,
as the large pinnules become slightly decurrent : but in this state they become
somewhat deeply cut, or even compound, while in the last species they are truly
entire, losing their serratures instead of becoming more cleft by culture.

(angulare.) Pinnules short, blunt, distinctly auricled. Rachis very chaffy.
Aspidium angulare, Smith in E. Fl.f Hook., Mack., Willd. A. aculeatum
Smith in FI. Br. Fig. — Plate 2, f. 6 (3. E. B. Sapp. 2776.

y (linearis) Pinnules linear and very sharp pointed. Fig. PL 2, f. 6 y.

These are well marked varieties, yet not sufficiently distinct either in habit or
character to constitute separate species. The var. /3 has, when luxuriant, its lower
and larger pinnae compound ; when it becomes of course subtripinnate, and larger,
(but not comparatively more robust,) thereby differing from the first or normal
state of the plant, which alone approaches the last species in occasionally decurrent
and convex pinnules.

Sit. — Common in hedge rows, damp banks, &c., chiefly in the south.

Hab. — Sco. : Peasebridge, Dr. Johnston. Eng. : Near Richmond, Yorks., Mr.
J. Tatham. Burton Wood, near Warrington, Lane. ; and in Cheshire, Mr. Rylands .
Ulverscroft Priory, Charnwood Forest, Rev. A. Bloxam. Isle of Man, Mr. Forbes.
Derbyshire, Dr. Howitt. Warwickshire, Rev. W. T. Bree. Somerset, Mr. A.
Southby. Little Worley Common, Essex, Mr. R. Castles. About Tonbridge
Wells and elsewhere, Kent, (abundant,) and near Bramshot, Hants, Mr. W.
Pamplin. Osterley Park, Lampton Lane, and Sion Lane, near Brentford, Midd.,
Mr. J. Bevis. Near Hastings, Mr. W. C. Trevelyan. Sussex, Rev. G. E. Smith.
Kingsteignton, Mr. Anderson. Near Gurnet Bay, Isle of Wight, Prof. Henslow.
— Wal. : Near Wrexham, Denbighs., Mr. J. E. Bowman. Cickle, near Beau-
maris, Anglesea, Mr. W. Leighton. Near Bangor and Caernarvon, Mr. W. Wilson.
Ire. : Colin Glen, Belfast, Mr. Mackay. Hedgebanks, near Carrickfergus,
Mr. F. Whitla. (3 Intermixed with and even more common in the extreme south
of the kingdom than the first state of the plant. — y Near Clonmell, Mr. G.S. Gough.

Geo.— Europe generally, Arabia, Cape of Good Hope, North Africa, on the
Green Mountains, Vermont, and other places in North America.

4.— ASPIDIUM THELYPTER1S.

MARSH SHIELD-FERN.

(Plate 3, fig. I.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate, erect. Pinnae linear, lanceolate, smooth.
Segments mucronated. Sori small. Root creeping.

Syn.— Aspidium thelypteris, Swz., Willd., Smith, Hook., Galp., Mack.,
Pursh. — Polypodium thelypteris, Linn., E. B., Dicks., Ehrh., With.,

Light/., (not of Huds .) Acrostichum thelypteris, Linn., Bolt. —

Athyrium thelypteris, Spreng. — Polystichum thelypteris, Roth. — Lastreea
thelypteris, Presl., Newm.

Fig.— E.B. 1018. — Flo Dan. t. 760. — Bolt. 43,44. — Newm., page 46.

Des. — Root creeping, furnished with long, black, slender, rather
smooth runners, giving rise at various points along their surface to
black radical fibres, and erect, light green, smooth ovate, or (when
fertile) oblong fronds, each from 6 to 12 inches long, having a

36

FERNS,

[Aspidium.

slender, and generally smooth rachis. Pinnae linear-lanceolate,
pointed, deeply pinnatifid, petioled, opposite. Segments oblong,
obtuse, occasionally with a very small point ; the first upper segment
on each pinna much longer than the others. Sori in continued
longitudinal lines near the margin of each segment, small, brown or
black, at first distant, afterwards confluent. Cover thin, white,
round, kidney- shaped, fastened near the centre, and soon lost among;
the growing thecae. The barren fronds differ much from those
which are fertile ; they are altogether wider, shorter and flatter,
with the pinnae horizontal, and rachis void of pinnae half way up.
The fertile fronds have two-thirds of the rachis covered with pinnae:
which are more numerous, deflexed, and curled, particularly at the
point. The edges of the pinna, folding over the lines of sori, give it
an acute appearance.

The only British Fern with which it is possible to confound this is Aspidium
oreopteris, from which it differs in its smaller size, lighter color, more ovate
frond not contracting so much below, the folded segments of the pinnae, and its
creeping root. This last character will distinguish it from all our other species
of this genus, it being the only one of which the root is not tufted. It is by no
means easily cultivated, nor frequent in fruit when wild, as the fertile fronds do
not rise till late in the season. While undergoing the process of desiccation for
the herbarium, the elasticity of the annulus of the theca is very apparent,
bursting with violence, and scattering the spores in all directions and to a con-
siderable distance.

Hab. — Common in Scotland, Sir W. J. Hooker. Learmouth Bogs, Northum.,
Mr. Winch. Near Settle, Yorks., Mr. J. Tatham. Allesley, Warw., Rev. W. Bree .
Knutsford Moor and New Church Bog, near Over, Cheshire, Mr. W. Wilson .
Oxton Bogs,, Notts., Dr. Howitt. Windsor Park and Sunning Hill Wells,
Berks., Mr. J. Bevis. Valley below Caesar’s Camp on Wimbledon Common,
planted there some years ago by Mr. Tyton. Bog on Waterdown Forest, near
Tunbridge Wells (1835), Mr. Parnplin. Somerset., Mr. Southby. Belton,
Suffolk, Mr. Paget. Sussex, Mr. Borrer. Border of Lake near Red Wharf,
Anglesea, Mr. W. Wilson. Beaumaris, Anglesea, Mr. J. E. Boivman. Marshes
at Glencree, County of Wicklow ; and Mucruss, Killarney, Mr. Mackay.

Geo. — Pomerania, Mecklenburgh, Prussia, Denmark, Sweden, N. and S.
Africa, and in all the United States, but seldom with fruit.

5.— ASPIDIUM OREOPTERIS.

HEATH SHIELD-FERN.

(Plate 3, fig. 2.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate, lanceolate. Pinnae glandulous, deeply
cleft. Segments blunt, entire. Root tufted.

Syn. — Aspidium oreopteris, Swz., Willd., Smith, Hook., Galp.. Spre?ig.,
Mack., Schk. — Aspidium odoriferum, Gray. — Polypodium oreopteris,
Ehrh ., Dicks., With., Hull, Sibth., Hoffm., Linn. — Polypodium thelyp-
teris, Huds., Bolt., Light/., Lledw. — Polystichum montanum, Decan. —
Lastraea oreopteris, Pres l, Newm .

Aspidium. j ferns. ,37

Fig. — E.B. 1019, — Flo . Dan. 1121 — Bolt. 22, /. 1 and 2.

Des.— Root tufted, large, black, scaly, fibrous. Fronds several,
growing in a circle from a crown, finely lanceolate, tapering at both
ends. Rachis covered with fine hair on the upper part, and with a
few scattered scales on the lower, delicate green, with a deep channel
on the upper side. Pinnae extending nearly all along the rachis,
more or less alternate, sessile, deeply pinnatifid, tapering to a fine
point, on the upper side smooth, on the under side hairy particu-
larly about the main rib, and covered with yellowish, shining glands,
smelling of turpentine. Segments very numerous, flat, blunt and
entire. Sori marginal, at length confluent, covering all the pinnae.
Cover thin, white, kidney- shaped, soon shrivelling up.

The fresh plant may instantly he known from all its congeners by the smell
emitted when drawn through the hand, or by holding it up to the light, in
which situation it shows very plainly translucent, minute points, very similar
to those seen in Hypericum perforatum ; though, be it observed, that unfavorable
situation and cold weather will often prevent the formation of, if not obliterate
these odorous pores. They are most abundant when the plants grow in sunny,
but not too dry localities. This Fern can only be mistaken for As. thel. or
Asp. Fil.-mas; it has already been distinguished from the former in describing
that plant, from the latter it may easily be known by its more elegant shape,
its smaller size and more delicate structure, no less than by its greater smooth-
ness in every part, particularly its rachis. The segments of the pinme also are
not crenate, as in Filix-mas, and the sori, which in that are large, distinct, and
confined to the lower half of the segment, are in this plant small, closer together,
more numerous, and continued throughout the whole length of the segment, very
near the margin.

Sit. — On heaths and in shady lanes, not uncommon in the north.

Hab. — Sco. : Glen Isla, Forfarsh., Mr. W. Brand. Common in Sutherland,
Dr. Johnston. Banks of Loch Tay, Mr. T. H. Cooper. Aberdeenshire, but not
common, Dr. Murray. Foot of Craig Challeach, &c., Mr. W. Wilson. — Eng. :
Near Chapel Weardale, Durham ; and Cawsey Dean, near Newcastle, Mr. R. B.
Bowman. Keswick, and near Lodore Waterfall, Curabl., Mr. H. C. Watson.
By the Tees, Mr. J. Hogg. Near Richmond, Yorks., Mr. J. Ward. Coleshill
Heath and Corley, Warw., Rev. W. Bree. Near Warrington, Mr. W. Wilson.
Dethick Moor, and near Riley, Derbys., Dr. Howitt. Isle of Man, Mr. Forbes.
Dallington Heath, near Northampton, Mr. Anderson. N. side of Shotover Hill,
Oxfordsh., Mr. Baxter. Oxton and Eddingley Bogs, Notts ; and Hartswell, near
Farnsfield, Mr. T. H. Cooper. Somerset, Mr. A. Southby. Bradwell, Suffolk,
Mr. Turner. Sussex and Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. Bailey’s Hill, between
Brasted and Tunbridge, (1835,) Mr. Pamplin. — Wal. : Near Wrexham, Den-
bighshire, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Llanberris and Nant Gwynedd, Caernarvonsh.,
Mr. C. C. Babington. Frequent in Caernarvonsh., Mr. W. Wilson. — Ire. .
Powerscourt Deer Park and Waterfall, Mangerton Mountain, Dr. Osborne.
Lough Corril, Galway, Mr. Shuttleworth. Plentiful in Ireland, Mr. Maclcay.

Geo. — Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Prussia, &c.

38

PERNS.

[ Aspidium.

6.— ASPIDIUM FILIX-MAS.

MALE FERN.

(Plate 3, fig. 3.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate, broadly lanceolate. Pinn8e alternate,
deeply pinnatifid. Segments obtuse, crenate. Rachis scaly.

Syn. —Aspidium Filix-mas, Swz., Willd., Smith, HooJc., Galp ., Mack.—
Poly podium Filix-mas, Linn., Huds ., Bolt., Woodv., Licks., Ehrh., Ger.,
With., Light/.- — Polystichurn Filix-mas, Roth, Decan. — Polystichum
callipteris, Bernh. — Lastrsea Filix-mas, Presl, Newm.

Fig.— E. B. 1458 .—Bolt. 24. — Woodv. 49.— Flo. Lon. 40. — Newm., page 51.

Des.— - Root large, tufted, black, and scaly. Fronds growing
centrally from a crown, broadly lanceolate, pinnate. Pinnae lanceo-
late, pointed, alternate, smooth, except on the under side of the
midrib, of a bright green, regularly tapering, curved upwards, and
very deeply cleft. Segments oblong, obtuse, slightly crenate at the
sides, copiously at the end, very close together, but not overlapping
each other. Sori confined to the upper half of the frond, and to the
lower half of each segment of the pinnae, round, large, and very
prominent. Cover large, orbicular, with a notch on one side, at
first white and transparent, afterwards opaque, and of a fine reddish
brown, covering the thecae even till they are fully ripe.

The large size, robust appearance, and decided character of this plant, obtained
for it very early and very aptly the name of Male Fern. Medicinal properties of
some importance have been ascribed to it, and apparently with justice. It is
retained in most of the pharmacopoeias of Europe as a specific for the larger
kinds of intestinal worms, and used very extensively for that purpose by the
faculty on many parts of the Continent, and if the employment of it has been
discontinued here, it is not because of its inutility, but from the discovery of
other remedies equally potent and better understood. The stem and roots are
bitter and astringent, and have been used instead of hops.

ft ( variegatum .) White, tipped and edged with green, (same habit.)
y ( recurvum .) Pinnae crisped, turned down. Frond small. Rachis smooth.
£ ( spinosum .) Pinnules serrate, smaller blended together, larger auricled.

The above states of the plant appear constant, besides which it is sometimes
found with a cormus, some inches above the ground ; Mr. W. Wilson has seen
it thus in Caernarvonshire, and Mr. Mackay in Wicklow. A singular variety
with the upper pinnae remarkably compound or branched has been observed in
Bore-hill Lane, below Dorking, Surrey, by Mr. W. Pamplin. Also Mr. T.
Clarke, Jun., of Bridgewater, has been so kind as to send me from King’s Cliff
Valley, four miles from that town, several fronds of a very large variety, which is
found there in considerable abundance. It is of a very dark color, has sori along
the whole pinnule, and the pinnules themselves are all deeply serrated along their
margin. Mr. Clarke also writes me, that Sir W. J. Hooker confirms his, and I

FERNS.

39

Aspidium. J

may add, my opinion also, that this plant is a variety of Filix-mas, though Sir
William observes that Schkuhr, who found it near Dresden, looked upon it as a
new species, and figured and described it as A. erosum. The continental A. Filix-
mas is usually more crenate or serrate than ours.

Sit. — 'Hedge-banks, &c., and in shady lanes throughout the kingdom.

Hab.—I have received numerous habitats from most of the English and
Scottish counties, from the extreme south to the Orkney Islands, and yet in some
places this plant is rare. Inchnedamff, in Sutherland, is one of these.— (3 : Near
Keswick, Cumberland, Mr. H. C. Watson.— y : Not very uncommon in dry
situations in the south.— 5 : Bomere Pool and Sutton Spa, both near Shrews-
bury, Mr. W. Leighton. Nettlecomb, Somerset, Mr. W . C. Trevelyan .

Geo.— North America, throughout Europe, and in Africa.

7.— ASPIDIUM CRISTATUM.

CRESTED SHIELD-FERN.

(Plate 3, fig. 4.)

Cha.— Frond pinnate. Pinnse opposite, pinnatifid, oblong, obtuse.

Segments ovate, decurrent, crenate, bristled.

Syn.— Aspidium cristatum, Swz., Willd., Smith, HooJc., Spreng., Galp.,
Mack., Schk., Pursh.— Polypodium cristatum, Linn., Afzel in StocJch.
Trans, for 1787. — (Not of Bolt., With., or Huds .) — Polystichum crista-
tum, Roth, Decan, Hoffm. — Polypodium callipteris, Ehrh ., Hojfm. — -
Lastrsea cristata, Presl, Neivm.

Fig.— Hook, in Flo. Lon., new ser. 113. — E. B. 2125, (not 1949.)— Newm.
page 54.

Des. — Root tufted. Fronds erect, rigid, yellowish green, bipin -
nate, oblong, blunt. Pinnae opposite, eight to fourteen pairs, very
distant from each other, short, ovate, oblong, obtuse, very deeply
pinnatifid or rather pinnate at their lower part. Segments ovate,
crenate, each crenature furnished with two or three small sharp points
or bristles, the principal vein in each segment slightly crooked, but
the midrib of the whole pinna straight. Rachis slightly scaly only
towards the lower part, where for about one- third of its height it is
otherwise naked. Sori large, very distinct, black at first, afterwards
brown. Cover white when young, very thick, circular, with a
lateral notch, and fixed by the centre.

Few plants have occasioned more discussion than this. The difficulty has
arisen chiefly because sufficient stress has not been laid upon the simply pinnate
character of the frond ; had this been regarded more, Aspidium spinulosum
would not so often have been confounded with it. The cristatum, besides being
less divided, has a more obtuse, more linear frond, and contracts very much
below. The sori of cristatum are comparatively much larger and less numerous,
and their covers persistent, not hidden by the capsules. It very nearly resembles
the American Aspidium goldianum.

Hab. — This is one of the rarest Ferns, not only here but on the Continent.
The only recorded habitats of it in this country are the Lows in Holt-heath,
Norfolk, Rev. R. B. Francis. On bogs among alder bushes, at Westleton,

40

PERNS.

\ Aspidium.

Suffolk, Mr. Davy. Oxton Bogs Notts, Dr. Howitt and Mr. T. Cooper ; and
lately discovered on Edgefield Heath, and at Fritton, Norfolk, by Mr. Wigharn ,
of Norwich. Even one of these habitats may, perhaps, be now expunged, as
Mr. Dennes informs me it is thirty years since it was last found at the Lows in
Holt-heath. It was stated on page 70, of the first edition, that I had reason to
believe that this plant grew on Wimbledon Common ; this was an error of
judgment or of memory in my informant. It does not grow there, but the A.
spinulosum does. Mr. Mackay admits it into the Irish Flora, as growing in the
grounds of Sir H. Gough, at Rathronan, near Clonmel, found there by Mr.
G. S. Gough, in 1835 ; he says that the Irish plant is acutely serrate.

Geo. — Oldenburgh, Bremen, Mecklenburgh, Hanover, and other parts of
Germany. New York to Virginia.

8. — ASPIDIUM RIGIDUM.

RIGID SHIELD-FERN.

(Plate 3, fig. 5.)

Cha. — Frond bipinnate. Pinnae alternate. Lobes oblong, de-
eurrent, tridentate. Rachis scaly.

Syn. — Aspidium rigidum, Hook, in Bri. Flo., ed. 3 and 4, Swz., Schk. — -
Aspidium spinulosum, Hook, in Bri. Flo., ed. 1. — Polypodium rigidum,
Hojfm. — Polystichum rigidum, Decan.— -Polystichum strigosum, Both. —
Lastrsea rigida, Presl, Newm.

Fig. — E. B. supp. 2724. — Schk.fil. t. 38. — Newm. page. 56.

Des. — Root tufted. Rachis thick, rigid, very scaly all the way
up. Frond lanceolate, not contracted below, erect, from one to two
feet high. Pinnae tapering, alternate, very close together, from
thirty to forty pairs, their stipes very much thickened at their
union with the rachis. Lobes distinct, decurrent, oblong, blunt,
tridentate, but not spinulose, their midrib waved. Sori large and
abundant, chiefly on the upper part of the frond. Indusium round
reniform, persistent, with a glandular margin, white at first, lead-
colored afterwards, covering the whole mass of thecae, &c.

Much diversity of opinion has existed respecting the identity of this very distinct
plant, a small state of the spinulosum being very often sent for it. Its generally
alternate pinnae would be perhaps sufficient to distinguish the two, but in other
respects it differs essentially from that more common species. The rachis
of the rigidum is very scaly and very much thicker than in the spinulosum,
its pinnae much more numerous and nearer together, the lower pair not broader
than the rest, the lobes of all quite decurrent, and not by any means spinulose,
besides which the indusia are very large, and so different, as at once to distinguish
the two plants ; in addition to which it may be remarked, that Aspidium rigidum
is much darker in color than the spinulosum, as it is also than the cristatum. It
is intermediate between the last and next species in the number of its divisions,
but does not resemble either of them in habit or appearance. Mr. Newman, and
the late Professor Don, both support me in the identity of this species with the
Aspidium rigidum of Schkuhr, specimens from whom I have seen. Mr. Newman
justly remarks that, “ when cultivated, it assumes a more diffuse and lax appear-
ance, and is not so like Schkuhr’s figure as the plant from Settle.”

Aspidium d\

FERNS.

41

Hab. — Found by Rev. W. Bree, in 1815, on Ingleborough, on a natural
platform, near the foot of the mountain, and towards the neighbouring village. This
was, I believe, the only situation recorded for this fern, at the publication of my
first edition in 1837. Since then it has been sought after and found in three or
four places, considerably distant from each other ; and there is reason to suppose
that it is pretty generally distributed all over the Ingleborough range, towards the
foot of the hills. Thus Mr. W. Wilson finds it at Wharnside. Mr. Chorley
has kindly communicated to me specimens from near Settle, where he and
Mr. J. Tatham find it abundantly. Also other fronds of the true plant have
reached me from Miss Beever, a young and enthusiastic botanist, who finds it at
Arnside Knot, not far from Silverdale.

Geo. — Switzerland, Prussia, Germany, &e.

8. — ASPIDIUM SPINULOSUM.

PRICKLY SHIELD-FERN.

(Plate 3, fig. 6.)

Cha. — Frond bipinnate. Pinnae opposite. Lobes finely cut,
spinulose. Rachis nearly smooth, white.

Syn. — Aspidium spinulosum, Willd. — Polypodium spinulosum, Sivz., Retz. — -
Polypodium cristatum, Hoffm., Schreb. — Polypodium spinosum, Schr. —
Polypodium dentatum, Moench.

Fig.- — E. B. 1460. — Flo. Dan. 707. — Pluk. Phyt. 181,/. 2, (a young plant,)
Schlc.fil. 48.

Des. — Frond ovate or oblong, always erect and flat. Pinnae very
nearly opposite, smooth, and distinct, as are also the lobes, which
are rarely convex. Segments oblong, pointed, doubly serrate, and
spinulose. Rachis nearly smooth, swelled at its ramifications, of
a whitish color, and generally covered with black dots. Sold
scattered, small. Indusium small, brown, soon shrivelling up.

This plant goes by various names among British botanists. It is repeatedly
considered and sent as Aspidium cristatum, (which see, page 39,) and is such
of some authors, but not of Smith, Hooker, or Mackay. It is also confounded
with the much rarer Aspidium rigidum, the diagnostics of which are very distinct ;
and with the next species, Aspidium dilatatum, it is often considered identical,
though sufficiently different, both wild and cultivated, in habit, texture, and color.
Our present plant is narrower than the dilatatum, of a less number of pinnae, flat,
erect, rigid in habit, of a very light green color, the midrib of the lobes more
zigzag and prominent, the lower pinnae rarely twice pinnate, the indusium
glandulous, and the whole plant much more delicate.

It should be observed, that the above remarks are not intended to apply to that
plant which Sir J. E. Smith’s herbarium contains, and which Sir W. J. Hooker
describes as a variety of dilatatum, under the above name. The spinulosum of
northern botanists, of Sir J. E. Smith, and of the Liverpool Botanic Garden, is,
in reality, but a variety of the next, and closely approaches to the recurvum of
Bree, and dumetorum of Smith, if not identical with them. The plant here
intended to be described is altogether different, and in cultivation retains precisely
the character of the wild plant, never approaching in the most remote degree the

G

42 ferns. [Aspidium.

Aspidium dilatatum, though the mountain form of this latter plant has the lower
pinnse much abbreviated.

In a vai'iety of spinulosum given me by Mr. J. Merrick, of Manchester, the
lobes on the upper side of each pinna are much larger than those on the lower ;
also, it may be remarked, that in dry situations the lobes will become convex,
but this is by no means common.

Sit. — On wet moors, sides of pools and ponds, wet hedge-rows, &c.

Hab. — Sco. : Moray and Rosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Aberdeenshire, Dr.
Murray. Dumbartonshire, Mr. J. Hooker. Auchindenny Woods, Edinburgh,
Mr. Watson. Isle of Man, Mr. Forbes. Near Richmond, Yorks., Mr. J.
Ward. Ingleborough, Yorkshire, Rev. W. Bree. In a small state at Woolston
Moss, Lane., and Newchurch Bog, near Over, Cheshire, Mr. W. Wilson. Tit-
terstone Clee Hills, Shrops., Mr. J. S. Bayly. Bomere Pool, Salop, Mr. C.
Babington. Warwicksh., Rev. W. S. Bree. Derbys.. Dr. Hewitt. Pottery
Car, near Doncaster, Mr. S. Appleby. Dallington Heath, near Northampton,
Mr. Anderson. Norfolk, Miss Bell. Near the Windmill, and near the Spring-well,
on Wimbledon Common, Mr. W. Pamplin. Barnes Common, Surrey (near the
Water-house), Mr. Castles. Abundant in Essex, Mr. J. Bevis. Common in
Kent, Mr. W. Pamplin. Tonbridge, Kent, Mr. W. C. Trevelyan. Sussex and
S. Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. Wood near Dunsford Bridge, Devon, Mr. Jacob.
Near Torquay, Dr. Greville. — Wal. : Aber, Caere., Mr. Leighton. Near
Wrexham, Denb., Mr. J. E. Bowman. Note. — I cannot say whether the Scotch
and Welsh habitats refer to the above plant, or to the Spinulosum of the Br. FI.

Geo. —Switzerland, Dauphiny, Saltzburg, Darmstad, and North America.

9. —ASPIDIUM DILATATUM.

GREAT SHIELD FERN. DILATED SHIELD FERN.

(Plate 3, fig. 7.)

C ha. —Frond tripinnate, triangular. Pinnie opposite, lobes
deeply dentate, spinulose, petioled. Rachis scaly.

Syn. — Aspidium dilatatum, Willd. Spreng., Forst., Galp., Gray.- — Aspidium
spinulosum, Swz., Sibth ., Hook, (not a ), Mack., Schk. — Polypodium
cristatum, With., Bolt., finds. , Ehrh., Moench., Light f. — Polypodium
dilatatum, Hoffm., Mull.- — Polystichum multiflorum, Roth. Lastraea
dilatata, Presl. Newm.

Fig. — E. B. 14G1 .—Bolt. 23. — Schk. fit. 47. Newm. p. 59. 61.

Des. — Root black, tufted. Frond tripinnate, triangular, from a
few inches to 2 feet high, dark green, and drooping. Pinnae
opposite, smooth, oblong, obtuse, pinnate, except the lower pair
which are doubly pinnate. Lobes ovate, pointed, convex, deeply
but irregularly serrated and spinulose, petioled, their midribs straight.
Rachis covered with broad, brown scales. Sori all the summer,
distinct. Indusiums soon becoming obliterated, round, with a
lateral notch.

A very variable plant, altered much by cultivation and circumstances ; thus
if it grow in a situation which is wet in the spring and dried up in the summer,
as on the margin of a pond, it will become var. /3, very dark, large, and quite

Asplenium. ]

FERNS.

43

drooping. Continued wet will elongate the frond and separate the pinnse and
lobes as in var. y. A young plant is only twice pinnate and flat. A dry and rocky,
or a confined situation will render the frond small and less divided, the lobes
blunt, deflexed, and drooping : thus starved it becomes the Aspidium dumeto-
rum of Smith (var. £). I know not the nature of the habitats in which the
recurved var. (s) of Bree grows, and can only regret that botanists do not
record the circumstances, as well as the places, in which plants are found.
The varieties recurvum and dumetorum are, I believe, not altered by cultivation,
and Sir J. E. Smith implies, in his description of the latter, that its spores
produce the same variety.

a ( dilatatum ) Frond sub-tripinnate, triangular, ovate. Pinnules petioled.
(5 ( - — - j Frond tripinnate, deflexed, triangular. Pinnules convex.

y ( — ___ — __ ) Frond tripinnate, triangular, elongated. Pinnules some-
what decurrent, and distant from each other.

£ ( dumetorum) Frond small, triangular, drooping. Pinnules blunt.
t ( recurvum , Bree.^) Frond small. Pinnules concave , and dark green.
Newm., p. 61.

Sit. and Hab. — « j3 y. Very common in damp hedge-rows and swampy
woods, ascending to an elevation of 1000 yards in many parts of the High-
lands, and probably even to 1200 yards on the Cairngorum range, Mr. H. C.
Watson. — 5. : Derbyshire (rare), Mr. J. E. Bowman and Dr. Howitt. Common
about Settle, Yorks., Mr. J. Tat/iam. Black Rock, Cromford, Derb., G. F.
Ben-na-Baird, Aberdeensh., Mr. H. C. Watson. Powerscourt Waterfall, and
side of Djouce Mountain, Ireland (abundant), Mr. Mackay. z. Plentiful about
Penzance, Cornwall, Rev. W. Bree.

Geo. — Common throughout Europe, and from Pennsylvania to Virginia.

ASPLENIUM. Linn. SPLEENWORT.

(acrarXiivoy, a medicine to cure disorders of the spleen, from a, and <jotX>iv.)

A, part of the frond of Asplenium marinum. One pinnule , showing the veins
and origin of the fruit , the others the sori in different states. B, part of
a pinnule magnified. C, the same cut transversely. D, under cuticle. E,
transverse section of the stem. F, indusium. G, theca and spore. H, young
plant .

Sori linear at first, afterwards oblong ; indusium linear, attached to a trans-
verse vein, and opening on the opposite part of the sorus towards the central
nerve of the pinna. This is a well marked and extensive genus, of which
Sprengel enumerates no less than 151 species ; of these ten only are British, which
are very little or not at all altered by culture, they are therefore less liable to
run into varieties than some other genera. It is only when the sori are in a
young state that many species can be known to belong to this genus, as the in-
dusiums are so delicate that they are soon lost among the sori, which in many
of the smaller species at last appear like round or oblong spots.

44

FERNS.

[. Asplenium .

I . — ASFLENIUM SEPTENTRIONALE.

FORKED SPLEENWORT.

(Plate 4, fig. 1 .)

Cha. — Frond simply partite. Segments linear, sharply toothed at

their extremity.

Syn. — Asplenium septentrionale, Swz., Willd ., Hull, Hoffm., Hook., Smith,
Galp., Gray. — Acrostichum septentrionale, Linn., Bolt., Dicks., Ehrh.,
With., ILuds., Lightf. — Scolopendrium septentrionale, Roth.

Fig. — E. B. 1017. — Flo. Dan. 60. — Bolt. 8. — Flo. Lon. 162.— Ger. 1561.—
Neivrn. , p. 73.

Des. — Fronds very numerous, upright when young, drooping
afterwards, rigid, 1 to 3 inches high, cleft near the top into two or
three linear sharp-pointed alternate segments, which in proportion to
their size are furnished at or near their extremity with from one to
three acute, but not spinous teeth. Sori one on each side of the
segment, nearly longitudinal, concealed at first by a white indusium,
attached at the outer edge ; afterwards the swelling sori throw back
the indusia, covering the whole of the segment, and finally curving
and contorting it in a curious manner.

Mr. H. C. Watson writes thus : “ Although quite a northern fern I observed
the young fronds destroyed by a frost of 25 degrees Fahr. in April, 1835. The
plant had been under a glass in a cold frame during winter, where the tem-
perature inside had risen a few degrees higher than outside by day, and had never
been allowed to sink to the freezing point at night, in consequence of a thick
covering of mats.”

Sit. — On the rocky clefts of mountains, chiefly in the north. Not in Ireland.

Hab. — Eng. : In situations probably exceeding 1000 feet in height in Cum-
berland, where it occurs sparingly on rocks, between the vale of Newlands and
Borrodale. — Wal. : Craig Ddw. (a mile above Llanberris Church), Caern., Mr.
C. C. Babington. Snowdon, (rare), Mr. J. E. Bowman. Llyn-y-cwm, N, Wales,
Mr. W. Wilson. — Sco. : Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, (above the rail-road),
Jedburg, &c., Mr. H. C. Watson. Blackford Hill, Edin., Mr. W. Brand.

Geo. — Holland, Switzerland. Not unfrequent throughout Europe.

2.— ASPLENIUM ALTERNIFOLIUM.

ALTERNATE-LEAVED SPLEENWORT.

(Plate 4, fig. 2.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate. Pinnse alternate, wedge-shaped, notched.

Syn. — Asplenium alternifolium, Smith, Hook., Dicks,, With., Galp., Jacq .
— Asplenium germanicum, Willd., Hojfm., Ehrh., Lam., Weis., Gray.
— Phyllitis heterophylla, Moench. — Scolopendrium alternifolium, Roth.
— Asplenium Breynii, Retz.

Fig. — E. B. 2258. — Jacy. Misc. t. 5. f. 2. — Breyn. Cent. 1 t. 91. — Newm.

p. 71. PP-

-FILICES

pjojltje; zv

G^Trancis. del, &t fc.

Asplenium. J

FERNS.

45

Des. — Frond from 1 to 3 inches high, very light green, upright,
delicate, about half covered with pinnae, which are alternate and
wedge-shaped ; the larger partly three- cleft, the smaller bluntly
notched at the end only. Rachis dark at the base only. Sori two to
four on each pinna, small, light brown, becoming confluent, hut not
occupying the whole under surface. Indusium entire on the margin.

This species is intermediate between the last and Asplenium Ruta-muraria,
although of a more delicate and erect habit than either ; its color also is much
lighter and its sori smaller and less confluent. When once seen it cannot possibly
be mistaken for any of the numerous casual forms of Asplenium Ruta-muraria.

The plants sold under this name in the nurseries around London are the
true species derived from some plants brought wild from Scotland, about 14
years ago, and given to the Countess De Vande, at Bayswater, and from her
garden distributed around. It quite retains its character in cultivation.

Hab. — Found originally by Mr. Dickson on rocks in the south of Scotland,
two miles from Kelso on the Tweed. Now existing at Dunkeld, in Perthshire,
Mr. Bishop and .Dr. Macnab . Very sparingly near Dunfermline, Fifeshire,
Dr. Deivar.

Geo. — Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, where it is quite an alpine plant.

3.— ASPLENIUM RUTA-MURARIA.

WALL RUE. RUE-LEAVED SPLEEN WORT. TENTWORT.

(Plate 4, fig. 3.)

Cha. — Frond bipinnate. Pinnae alternate. Pinnules ovate or
wedge-shaped, with rounded notched extremities.

Syn. — Asplenium Ruta-muraria, Linn., Willd., Hook., Smith, Bolt., Bull.,
Ehrh ., Huds., With., Galp., Lightf. — Asplenium murale, Bernh., Gray.
Scolopendrium Ruta-muraria, Both. — Phyllitis Ruta-muraria, Moench.
Ruta-muraria, Bau., Ray., Ger., Plum., Newm.

Fig. — E. B. 150. — Bolt. 16.-— FI. Dan. 190. — Bull., Fr. 195. — Plum. Fil.
t. a. f. 3. — Newm. Brit. Ferns., p. 71. not fi. fi.

Des. — Root tufted, black, very long. Frond from 1 to 4 inches
high, dull green. Rachis green, except at the very base. Pinnae
confined to the upper half, from three to five or six in number, placed
alternately, for the most part distinctly three cleft. Pinnules ovate in
small fronds, wedge-shaped in the larger; their tips rounded and
crenate, or unequally notched. Barren fronds broader and shorter.
Sori dark brown, finally confluent, and covering the whole under
surface. Indusium uneven at the margin.

Sit. — On walls, ruins, rocks, and other similar situations.

Hab. — Very generally distributed over the United Kingdom, though there
are a few districts where it is scarcely found. I believe Berwickshire is one
of these, nor is it by any means plentiful in Norfolk or Suffolk.

Geo.-— Most parts of Europe, and from New York to Carolina in America.

46

PERNS.

[. Asplenium .

4 . — ASPLENIUM MARINUM.

SEA SPLEENWORT.

(Plate 4, fig. 4.)

Cha. — Frond oblong, pinnate. Pinna? obtuse, serrate, slightly
auricled above. Rachis winged.

Syn. — Asplenium marinum, Linn., Willd., Huds., Bolt., Dicks., Lightf.,
With., Galp., Smith, Hook, Mack., Gray, Newm., 8fc.

Fig.— E. B. 392.— Lob. Ic. 814. — FI. Lon. 60 .—Bolt. 15.— Ger. 1143—
Newm. 75.

Des. — Root very thickly tufted, black, with stout fibres. Frond
6 to 9 inches high, pinnate, irregularly oblong, obtuse. Rachis
winged all the way down, black, shining, smooth, without pinnae at
the lower part, above bearing about twenty on each side, mostly
alternate, obtuse, about an inch long in the middle of the frond,
running at the base into the wing of the rachis, therefore slightly
decurrent ; the upper side of each generally auricled, the lower side
proportionably truncated. Sori large, transverse, at first linear, then
oblong, but never confluent. Indusium white or of a pale brown.

Sit. — Upon maritime rocks, or in caves by the sea side, and in one or two
inland situations.

Hab. — Eng : Marsden Rocks, Durham, Mr. R. B. Bowman. Isle of Man,
Mr. Forbes. Above the Black Rocks at the entrance of the Mersey, (Cheshire
side,) Mr. H. C. Watson. Liverpool, (near the Dingle,) Mr. Merrick.
Still at Hulme Stone Quarry, (otherwise called Winwick Stone Delph,) near
Warrington, where Bolton gathered it, (v. Bolt. Fil. loc. cit.,) Mr. W. Wilson.
In this place Mr. Shaw, of Bollington, many years ago found a curious variety,
with a much more divided frond than is usual, and which remains with him distinct
in culture. Sussex, Mr. Borrer. West of Cornwall, Professor Henslow. —
Wal. : Anglesea, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Near the South Stack Light-house,
Holyhead, Mr. C. C. Babington. Ormeshead, and near Bangor, Mr. W. Wilson. —
Sco. : Parish of Nigg, Rosshire, Mr. Brichan. Near Port Patrick, Wigtonshire,
Dr. Balfour. Moray, Rev. G. Gordon. Isle of Staffa, Mr. J. Dovaston. Near
Eyemouth, Berwicks., Rev. A. Baird. Frequent on the whole line of the Ber-
wickshire coast, Dr. G. Johnston. Fife and Aberdeensh., (common,) Dr. Murray.
Isle of Arran, Mr. T. H. Cooper. — Ire. : Sutton side of Howth Mountain,
Underwood, Killiney Hill, &c., Dr. Osborne. Derrinane, county Kerry, Mr.
Kelly. Abundant on the southern and western coasts, Mr. Mackay.

Geo.— Barbary, Canary Islands, Spain, St. Helena, West Indies, Islands of the
Archipelago, &c. There is but little difference between our plant and Dr. Hooker’s
species Asplenium obtusatum.

5.— ASPLENIUM TRICHOMANES.

COMMON MAIDEN-HAIR SPLEENWORT. WALL SPLEENWORT.

(Plate 4, fig. 5.)

Cha.— -Frond pinnate, linear. Pinnae subrotund, crenate. Rachis
black.

Asplenium.]

PERNS,

47

Syn. — Asplenium trichomanes, Linn., Willd., Michx., Woodv., Bolt., Dicks.,
Ehrh., Lightf., Smith, Hook., With., Spreng., Huds. — Asplenium saxa-
tile, Salisb., Gray. — Asplenium trichomanoides, Schkr., ( hot Michx.) —
Asplenium melanocaulon, Willd., Pursh. — Trichomanes, Ray, Fuchs.,
Tillands., Bauh., Plum., Park. — Phyllitis rotundifolia, Moench., Newm.

Fig. — E. B. 576. — Flo. Lon. 156. — Bolt. 13. — Flo. Dan. 119 .— Woodv. 201,
— Ger. 1146. — Plum. t. B.f. 1. — Newm., p. 80.

Des. — Fronds tufted, linear, pinnate, 2 to 4 inches high, dark
green, very rigid, quite smooth, with a purplish-black shining rachis,
channelled in front. Pinnae from twenty to thirty pairs, opposite or
alternate, (generally the former,) obtuse, crenate, of a round or oval
form, very distinct from each other all the way up, and sessile, or
very nearly so. Sori two to six on each pinna, placed transversely,
very dark colored, finally confluent, often covering the whole under
surface.

Hab. — Common on rocks, old walls, &c., in most parts of the United King-
dom ; not only on the main land, hut the Isles of Anglesea, Man, Wight, Sheppy,
and the Channel Isles, yet by no means frequent in the N and NE. of Scotland.

Geo. — Throughout Europe. In Jamaica. In Japan and other parts of Asia.
Canada, Pennsylvania, and high mountains of Carolina.

6.— ASPLENIUM VIRIDE.

GREEN MAIDEN-HAIR SPLEENWORT. GREEN RIBBED SPLEENWORT,

(Plate 4, fig. 6.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate, linear. Pinnae roundish-deltoid, crenate.
Rachis green.

Syn. — Asplenium viride, Huds., Willd., Roth., Dicks., Ehrh., Bolt., Smith ,
Hook., With., Spreng., Galp., Lightf., Gray, Newm.

Fig. — E. B. 2257 .—Bolt. 14 .—Flo. Dan. 1289.— Pluk. Phy. 89, /. 6—
Newm. 78.

Des. — Fronds numerous, pinnate, linear, from 3 to 6 inches high,
of a very light green color. Pinnae petioled, alternate, the upper
ones ovate, the lower roundly triangular, attached to the rachis by
the centre of one of the sides, which is somewhat truncate, the other
two sides being regularly and deeply crenate, sometimes doubly so.
Rachis quite green, except at the lower part. Sori reddish brown,
two to six on each pinna, confined to the middle of it, finally be-
coming confluent, but even then not extending to the margin.

This is immediately distinguished from the last by the lighter color of all its
parts, its less spreading sori, and differently-shaped and alternate pinnae ; added
to which, the pinnae on the lower part of the frond are generally distant, and
those near the top of the frond crowded, while the whole is much more delicate
and elegant. Sometimes the frond is divided into two, as represented in Bolton,
t. 2, f. 3, when it becomes the Trichomanes ramosum of authors ; but this
branching is an accidental circumstance, and by no means constant ; it therefore

48

PERNS.

[. Asplenium .

does not constitute a variety, more especially as not more than two or three
branched fronds are found upon a plant, all the rest being of the common
character and appearance.

Sit. — On rocks, not farther south than Yorkshire, or perhaps Derbyshire. —
Eng. : On rocks in Northumberland, Mr. Winch . Mazebeck Scars, Westmorl.,
and Gordale, Yorkshire, Mr. R. Bowman. Near Halifax, Yorkshire, Mr. R.
Leylands. Near Ais-la-Beek, and Richmond, Yorks., Mr. J. Ward. Settle,
Mr. Chorley.- — Wal. : Cader Idris, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Snowdon, Mr. C. C.
Balington. Twll. Du, Caern., Mr. T. H. Cooper. Not uncommon on the
Welch mountains, Mr. W. Wilson. — Sco. : Rosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Cawder
Woods, Nairns, Mr. W. Staples. Base of Benmore, Sutherlandsh., Dr. John-
ston. Far too common in the Highlands to need the specifying of stations,
Mr. H. C. Watson. — Ire. : Turk Mountain, Killarney, Ben Baulben, county
of Sligo ; and on the Donegal Mountains, near Lough Eske, Mr. Mach ay.

Geo. — Germany, Holland, Switzerland, France ; very rare, except on the
mountains of Tyrol and Carinthia.

7.— ASPLENIUM FONTANUM.

SMOOTH ROCK SPLEENWORT.

(Plate 5, fig. 1 .)

Cha. — Frond bipinnate. Pinnse oblong, blunt, alternate. Pin-
nules wedge-shaped, cleft, and toothed. Rachis winged.

Syn. — Asplenium fontanum, Hook., Smith, Bernh. — Aspidium fontanum,
Willd., Swz., ( not of Schkr.) — Polypodium fontanum, Linn., Huds.,
Bolt., With. — Athyrium fontanum, Gray.

Fig. — E. B. 2024. — Loh. Ic. 810, 1. — Bolt. 21, (bad.) — Newm., page 4.

Des. — Root tufted, long, black. Frond lanceolate, bipinnate,
evergreen, 2 to 6 inches high. Rachis winged throughout. Pinnae
alternate, ovate, oblong, those in the middle of the frond from a
quarter to half an inch long, formed of six or eight pinnules placed
alternately. Pinnules short, broadly wedge-shaped, petioled, so
very deeply cleft at the sides and toothed at the apex as to become
nearly pinnate. Seldom more than two sori upon each pinnule,
which soon extend over the whole surface of it.

Our present species most resembles Asplenium lanceolatum, the shape of the
frond being nearly the same. The fontanum, however, is much more delicate,
and smaller in all its parts, of a very dark green color, its pinnules not half the
size, and of a very different shape to those of the lanceolatum, besides which
its winged rachis is of itself a sufficient diagnostic. It is very much more
difficult to distinguish it from Asplenium Halleri, a species that is very rare on
the Continent, and for which our fontanum is very generally sold.

Hab. — Supposed to be now extinct in England ; it was once found on Amer-
sham Church, in Buckinghamshire, and at Wybourn, in Westmoreland. I have
been informed that living plants were found at a waterfall in either Northumberland
or Westmoreland, 14 or 16 years ago, and also that it once grew on Alnwick
Castle ; but if so, it is no longer found there.

Geo. — Saxony, Switzerland, South Europe, and Siberia.

FIZZC^I S

FZF.TF, 177

G-. Francis, del.et sc.

Asplenium.

FERNS'.

4-9

8. — ASPLENIUM LANCEOLATUM.

LANCEOLATE SPLEENWORT.

(Plate 5, fig. 2.)

Cha. — Frond lanceolate, bipinnate. Pinnae and pinnules obovate,
sharply toothed at the apex.

Syn. — Asplenium lanceolatum, Huds., Swz., Hoffm., WillcL, Smith, Hook.,
Forst., With., Galp., Gray. — Phillitis lancifolia, Moench .

Fig. — E. B. 240. — Ger. Herb. 1135. — Newm., page 66.

Des. — Frond lanceolate, bipinnate, from 3 to 6 inches high,
upright in habit, and of a light green color. Rachis green, minutely
hairy, not winged, void of pinnae below. Pinnae opposite, from
twelve to twenty pairs, the lower pair short, distant from the next,
and often slightly drooping. Pinnules ovate, sharply serrated and
pointed, the smaller confluent, the larger petioled and tapering at the
base, particularly that on the upper side next the rachis. Sori light
brown, one or two near the middle of each lobe, at first linear,
afterwards round, but very rarely or never covering the whole under
surface.

This Fern has been repeatedly confounded with Asplenium Adiantum nigrum,
though there is a very great dissimilarity between them ; our present species is of
a different shape, color, size, and habit, its divisions less numerous, the naked
part of its stem shorter, and its sori less extended : in fact they vary in almost
every particular.

Sit. — On rocks, &c. in the south of England, and in Wales.

Hab. — On the walls of the Church of St. Sancret, near the Land’s End,
Cornwall, Jones's Tour. Abundant around Penzance and St. Ives, Mr. H. C .
Watson. Scilly Islands, Mr. W. C. Trevelyan. Sussex, Mr. Borrer. High
rocks, near Tunbridge Wells, (1835,) Mr. W. Pamplin. Near Barmouth,
(plentiful,) Mr. J. E. Bowman and Mr. W. Wilson.

Geo. —Azores, Bohemia, Hungary, France.

9.— ASPLENIUM ADIANTUM NIGRUM.

BLACK MAIDEN-HAIR. SHINING SPLEENWORT.

(Plate 5, fig. 3.)

Cha. — Frond tripinnate, subdeltoid. Pinnae alternate. Pinnules
inciso- serrate, blunt. Rachis winged, black.

Syn. — Asplenium Adiantum nigrum, Linn., Willd., Smith , Hook., Mack.,
Bolt., Both, Huds., With., Galp., Bernh., Lightf. — Asplenium lucidum,
Gray, Salish. — Black spleenwort, Newm.

Fig. — E. B. 1950. — Flo. Dan. 250. — Bolt. 1 7.— Ger. 1137. — Newm.,
page 68.

II

50

FERNS.

[ Asplenium .

Des. — Frond tripinnate, ovate or deltoid, 4 to 8 inches high, dark
green, rigid, and erect. Rachis black, smooth, slightly winged,
clothed with pinnae only on the upper half. Pinnae alternate, those
only on the lower part twice pinnate, the lowermost the largest.
Pinnules deeply cleft, tapering at their base, sharply serrated at and
near the top. Sori linear at first, round at last, covering the whole
under surface of the frond.

a Fronds rigid, tripinnate only at the lower part. ( The common plant .)

/3 Fronds delicate, tripinnate throughout. ( Not of Smith.)

Sir J. E. Smith, in conformity with the old authors, makes another variety,
differing only from the common plant in having long fronds and distant pinnae ;
but I leave any one to say if it be anything more than a drawn up plant of the
common species, found as it was, solitary, in a dark cave.

Hab. — a. : Common through the United Kingdom, on walls, rocks, &c. I
have habitats from the Orkney Islands, and from those in the English Channel,
from the eastern as well as from the western counties, from Wales, Scotland,
and Ireland. Dr. Murray writes me, “ Not common in the north of Scotland.”
— (3. : Limestone rocks at Mucruss, Killarney, Mr. MacJcay, Miss Hutchins,
and Dr. Taylor. Mount Cahir-Cource, six miles from Tralee, Mr. W. Andrews.

Geo. — Italy, France, Germany, Madeira, and high mountains of Carolina.

10.— ASPLENIUM FILIX-FCEMINA.

LADY FERN.

(Plate 5, fig. 4.)

Cha. — Frond broadly lanceolate, bipinnate. Pinnae tapering,
pointed. Pinnules oblong, inciso- serrate. Rachis smooth.

Syn.— Asplenium Filix-foeinina, Hook., Mack., Spreng., Bernh. — Aspidium
Filix-foemina, Sivz., Willd., Smith, Hook, in FI. Sco., Galp. — Poly-
podium Filix-foemina, Linn., Lightf, Huds., Bolt., Dicks., With. —
Polypod. ovato-crenatum, Hoffm . — Athyrium Fil-foem., Both, Decan.,
Presl., Newm.

Fig.— E. B. 1459.— Flo. Dan. 1346.— Do/E 25 .—Pluk. Phyt. 180, /. 4.
Newm., p. 63.

Des. — Root large, tufted. Rachis without scales, green (rarely
purple), the naked part very short. Frond bipinnate, broadly lan-
ceolate, long-pointed, and tapering at the base, 12 to 20 inches high,
dark green, very delicate in habit, often recurved. Pinnae alternate,
from twenty to forty pairs, oblong, tapering gradually to a point, the
lower ones sometimes drooping. Pinnules very numerous, oblong,
rather blunt, pinnatifid, or inciso-serrate, the serratures minutely
toothed, but not aristate, the lower pair close to and parallel with the
rachis. Sori solitary, near the base of the lobes, at first linear-
reniform, at length round, but not confluent. Indusium jagged,
white, oblong or reniform.

PERNS.

51

Scolopendrium . ]

ft Rachis red and somewhat scaly. (This is the character the plant bears
in Switzerland.)

y ( Aspid . irriguum, Sm.) Frond narrow, pinnae distant, deeply cleft.

5 Frond broad and small, pinna and pinnules short and few, nearly white.

All the varieties of this Fern are so very tender (particularly the var. y),
that they shrivel up and become withered almost immediately upon being
gathered. Under the name of Aspidium irriguum, I have received fronds
(without fruit) of very different habit, marked y and £, neither of them by any
means a distinct species, perhaps not even a constant variety, as the former
appears to me rather a plant drawn up either by a confined situation or excess
of moisture, while the other is perhaps a young plant only, and its very light
color an adventitious circumstance. The beauty of this common plant occa-
sioned its name of Lady Fern, contrasting as it does with the robust habit of
Filix-mas or Male Fern.

Sit. — Its natural habitation is swampy woods and damp hedge-rows ; or, as
Sir Walter Scott incidentally remarks in his novel of “ Waverley,”— -

“ Where the copse- wood is the greenest,

Where the fountain glistens sheenest,

Where the morning dew lies longest,

There the Lady Fern grows strongest/’

Hab.— Pretty freely distributed over the southern and midland counties of
England and Ireland, though it is by no means abundant in North Wales or
North Scotland, except in particular neighbourhoods. — (6 : Frequent in moist
woods in Kent, Mr. W. Pamplin.' — y: Ruberslaw, Jedburgh; Aber, Caern. ;
and near the English Bridge, Shrewsbury, Mr. Leighton. Marsh at Mucruss,
Killarney, Mr. Mac/cay. In some boggy woods belonging to Bridge Park,
Tunbridge Wells, (1835), Mr. W. Pamplin. — £ : Prestwich Carr, near Man-
chester, Mr. Merrick , who gave me a specimen, (5 inches high.)

Geo. — Throughout Europe, and from Canada to Virginia, in North America.

SCOLOPENDRIUM, Swz. HART’S-TONGUE.

A, portion of a frond of Scolopendrium vulgar e, showing the origin of the
fruit from lateral veins , and with its ordinary appearance. B, transverse section
of the twin masses of fruit , with their folding indusiums while in a young state.
C, ripened fruit , in which the sori have become confluent , and thrown back the
covers. E, theca and spores. F, theca opened. G. transverse section of the
rachis.

The sorus of this small genus appears to have two indusiums, at first folded
over each other, and afterwards thrown back in contrary directions ; but in
fact the sorus itself is no less double, two of them growing together so closely as
to form in appearance but one mass ; this is transverse, and seated between those
lateral veins to which the two covers are attached.

52

FERNS.

[ Scolopendrium .

SCOLQPENBRIUM VULGARE.

COMMON HARTS-TONGUE.

(Plate 5 , fig. 5.)

Cha.- — Frond ligulate, acute, entire, cordate at the base. Rachis
scaly.

Syn.-— Scolopendrium vulgare, Smith, HooJc., Spreng., Mack., Gray.—
Asplenium scolopendrium, Linn., Huds., Bolt-, Woodv., Ehrh. — As-
plenium elongatum, Salisb. — Scolopendrium officinarum, Swz., Willd.,
Pursh.

Fig. — E. B. 1150 .—Bolt. 11 .—Flo. Lon. 67.— Ger. 113S. — Schk.pl. 83.

Des.-— -Root tufted. Fronds numerous, a foot high, strap-shaped,
pointed, the base of them heart-shaped, smooth, except the lower
part of the rachis and sometimes the midrib, which are very scaly.
Sori attached to oblique transverse veins, always in twin united
masses, each having its cover attached ; the one at the upper side,
the other at the lower, and when young folding over each other in
the middle. The sori are oblong, distant from each other, and
chiefly at the upper part of the frond.

This plant is very apt to become differently cleft and crisped, remaining
so under cultivation, and bearing fruit copiously in that state ; hence the
following varieties are noticed.

a (vulgare). Frond ligulate, flat and single pointed.

/3 ( crispum ). Frond crisped and curled along the margins,
y (multifidum). Frond much cleft at the top.
f (linearis). Frond very long and narrow.

The above, except /3, can scarcely be considered distinct varieties, but should
rather be accounted monstrosities, particularly y, which is produced by over
abundance of food and warmth ; thus if the common state of the plant be trans-
planted to rich soil in a green-house, it will rarely ever fail to produce fronds
cleft more or less towards the apex. These same plants, if again thrown out and
neglected, will return to their original state. The spores of all the varieties will
produce the common plant.

Sir J. E. Smith remarks, that “ the whole plant has a nauseous scent when
bruised, and is of a mucilaginous and acid taste.” It is now discarded from
the regular practice of medicine, but frequently still sold in our herb shops,
being used as an ointment for burns, &c., and taken internally as an astringent.

Sit. — -In damp ruins, rocks, wells, &c.

FIab. — Scarcely a common Fern, though abundant in some places, particu-
larly in the south and west of both England and Ireland, but decreasing in
quantity northwards. Isle of Man, Mr. E. Forbes. Near Braunston, Leices-
tershire (rare), Rev. A. Bloxam. In Wagg Lane, Congleton, Cheshire ; also at
Buxton, Matlock, and Dove Dale, Derbyshire, Mr. H. C. Watson. Near Leeds,
Mr. H. Denny. Near Richmond and Settle, Yorkshire, Mr. J. Tatham. Three
varieties on Pottery Car, near Doncaster, Mr. Appleby. Hawkstone, Salop,
Mr. J. S. Bayly. Abundant about Twickenham, Whitton, Plounslow, Brentford,
&c., Middlesex ; also at Barnes Common and Wimbledon Common, Surrey, G.F .

Jilechnmn.]

FERNS.

53

Arniston Woods, Edinburgh, Mr. W. Brand. Cawdor Woods, Mr. W. Stables.
Moray, Bev. G. Gordon. Sutherland, Aberdeenshire, and Kincardineshire, but
by no means common, Dr. Murray. Orkney, Dr. Gillies. Near Wrexham,
Denb., Mr. J. E. Bowman. Castell Aber, Lleiniog, Anglesea, Mr. W. Leighton.
— y: Caernarvon Castle, Mr. J. F. M. Dovaston. Carreg Onan, Anglesea,
Mr. W. Leighton.

Geo. — Not found in the northern countries of Europe. In Germany as far
north as Grimmia. Very rare in Noi'th America, being, according to Pursh,
found only in one place, viz. New York.

BLECHNUM, Linn. HARD FERN.

(From xvov, a Greek name for a Fern.)

A, portion of a fertile frond of Blechnum boreale. B, pinnule magnified ,
showing the covers or indusiums. C, transverse section of sorus, pinnule , and
indusia. D, theca and spores. E, transverse section of rachis.

A genus of thirty -one species, known by bearing its fruit in closely united
masses, not on transverse veins, as in Scolopendrium, but one on each side, and
close to the midrib of the pinnule. Covers attached on the outer side of each
mass, opening on the inner side, but not folding over each other, as in the last
genus.

BLECHNUM BOREALE.

HARD FERN. ROUGH SPLEENWORT.

(Plate 5, fig. 6.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate, erect. Pinnae linear, entire. Rachis smooth.

Syn. — Blechnum boreale, Swz., Willd., Spreng ., Smith, Llook., Mack., Galp.,
Gray. — Blechnum spicant, Both., With. — Osmunda spicant, Linn., Bolt.,
Hedw., Ehrh., Lightf. — Osmunda borealis, Salisb. — Lonchitis aspera,
Bay, Ger. — Acrostichum nemorale, Lam. FI. Fr.— Acrostichum spicant,
Sibth., Fill. — Asplenium spicant, Bernh. — Onoclea spicant, Hojfm. —
Lomaria spicant, Desv ., Newm., Presl.

Fig. — E. B. 1159. — Bolt. 6. — Flo. Dan. 99.— -Ger. 1140. — Schk.fil. 110.

Des.— Hloot black, tufted, scaly, with stout fibres. Rachis smooth
and polished. Fertile fronds numerous, erect, strap-shaped, tapering
at each end, about a foot high. Pinnse linear, dilated somewhat at
the base, in some degree falcate, distant from each other, and
alternate, wholly covered on the under side with fruit. Barren
fronds lanceolate, shorter than those which are fertile, and growing
more on the outside of the plant, their pinnse oblong, curved up-
ward, and placed close together at their bases, but scarcely dilated
at that part. Sori continued in an uninterrupted line from the base

54

FERNS.

[ Pteris .

to the point of each pinna, one on each side of the midrib. In-
dusium attached to very near the edge of the pinna, opening on the
side nearest the midrib.

While young the back of the lobe shows only the midrib and two irregularly-
edged white covers ; afterwards these bend back and turn brown, and as in our
species no leafy expansion appears outside the lines of thecse, but the cover seems
to be the edge of the frond reversed, it might be taken at first sight for a Pteris,
yet upon examination a narrow extension of the frond will be seen beyond the
insertion of the indusiums. A curious variety of Blechnum boreale is found by
Miss Beever, near Ambleside. Its lobes are much distorted, serrated, toothed,
or deeply crenate. I have ventured to name and figure a portion of one of the
fronds kindly sent me by Miss Beever.

/3 ( stricta .) Frond linear, pinnules abbreviated, and with irregular margins.

Sit.— On sandy heaths, hedge-rows, stony places, & c.

Hab.— Spread throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, in the last country
especially in the counties of Wicklow and Clare. It ascends to 700 yards in
Cumberland, 800 in Forfarshire, and much higher on the Cairngorum Mountains,
in Aberdeenshire, where it probably attains to situations of the height of 1200 or
1300 feet, Mr. H. C. Watson .

Geo. — Common in Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and N. W. coast of
America.

PTERIS, Linn. BRAKES.

(TTTspf, a Fern; from nr spjf, a feather.)

A, part of one of the divisions of the frond. B, the same magnified, showing
the continued indusium. C, transverse and perspective view of part of a pinnule.
D, theca and spore. E, outer indusium magnified, showing its ciliated margin.
F, transverse section of the rachis near the root. G, ditto of the creeping
rhizoma.

A very extensive genus, comprising no less than 120 species, most of them from
warm climates. One species only is British. The fructification is home in a
continued line along the margin of the frond, which appears to he turned over
so as to form a continued indusium, hut which upon microscopic examination
is seen to he of different and more delicate structure ; an inner indusium is also
present in ours and some other species, which ynany botanists consider a necessary
character of a Pteris , and that its absence or presence might serve to divide the
genus into two.

. * .

'i

TZA.TJE. Vi

G Francis. d&Z, sc.

P ter i$.j

FERNS.

55

PTERIS AQUILINA.

BRAKES. BRACHEN. FEMALE FERN.

(Plate 6, fig. 1.)

Cha.= — Frond thrice pinnate. Larger pinnules pinnatifid, smaller
entire. Rachis smooth,

Syn. — Pteris aquilina, Linn, and all modern Authors. — Filix foemina, Ray ,
Ger. — Asplenium aquilina, Bernh. — Pteris caudata /3, Schk.

Fig. — E.B. 1679 .—Ger. 1128. — Bolt. 10, ( all bad).

Des. — Root long and creeping, black and smooth when old,
tomentose and brown when young. Rachis smooth, shining, without
pinnse on the lower part, tapering and black near its junction with
the root. Fronds annual, erect, rigid, repeatedly divided, 2 to
5 feet high. Pinnee opposite, more and more divided downwards,
the smallest entire, the next pinnatifid, still lower ones pinnate,
pinnato-pinnatifid, and twice pinnate. Pinnules opposite below,
alternate above, oblong, blunt, connected to the midrib by their
wdiole base, that terminating the pinna much larger than the others
near it. Sori in a continued line around every sinuosity of the pinna.
Indusium adhering to the margin of the frond, within which is
another cover, contrary or opposite to the outer one, and in like
manner fringed. When the young fronds first uncoil themselves
they are densely downy.

If the stem be cut across near the root, it exhibits the bundles of vessels
very plainly, in the form of an oak tree, or, as Linnaeus thought, a spread eagle ;
hence its name Aquilina. This is seen in the generic wood-cut above, where also
is a transverse section of the rhizoma, showing a totally different arrangement of
vessels. The circumstance of the curious arrangement of vessels of the stem
was a matter of notoriety at a very early period. Thus we find in a most rare
little book, entitled, “A Dyalogue or Communycation of two persons devysed or
set fortbe, in the Latin Tonge, by the noble and famous clarke Desiderius
Erasmus, intituled, The Pilgrimage of pure Devotyon, newly translatyd into
Englishe.” (no date, supposed to be 1551), is the following curious passage:
“ Peraventure they ymagyne the symylytude of a tode to be there; evyn as ive
suppose when we cutte the fearne stalke there to be an egle.”

This Fern is useful for many purposes, independently of the anthelmintic and
astringent properties the herbalists attach to it. It is the favorite haunt of the
deer tribe. As it is very long before it rots, and does not harbour insects, it is
excellent as thatch ; it does not hold moisture so much as straw, and is therefore
better as litter for cattle, and as a cover to preserve plants from frost. It is also
very excellent to lay fruit upon, or to pack it in, as it does not communicate any
mustiness. Containing tannin, it is useful in the preparation of the lighter kinds
of leather, and affords excellent potash when burnt. Its harsh texture and
astringent taste render it unpalatable to cattle, though the roots are sought for

56

FERNS.

[Pteris.

by pigs, and have even been dried and ground for bread, but only in times of the
greatest scarcity. Upon being boiled, they yield a strong mucilage. The peasants
of most parts of the kingdom assert their right to it as fuel, and use it chiefly to
heat their ovens, a purpose for which it is well adapted, as it burns furiously. It
is so valuable to the farmer of Germany for cattle fodder, that it is an article of
ready sale there, and the cutting of it subject to very severe forest laws.

It remains dormant during more than half the year, the fronds not appearing
till the middle of May, and being cut off with the first slight frost of autumn.
It is also very impatient under culture : to remove a root otherwise than with a
considerable quantity of earth attached to it, or in any season but that of its tor-
pidity, would assuredly destroy it, as would also cutting down the fronds three or
four seasons in succession. The remarkable paucity of young fern plants, of
almost every species, must have struck the attention of most botanists. A single
frond of Pteris aquilina produces more seed than any number the mind can con-
ceive ; millions of fronds do often extend over a waste, or park, yet how rarely is
a young plant to be discovered any where. Indeed, had young plants been fre-
quent, our ancestors could scarcely have imbibed the notion that they yielded no
seed, or that it was a rarity, and only to be procured at the exact hour of the
night on which John the Baptist was born. Pliny says, “ of fern be two kinds,
and they bear neither flower nor seed.” Culpepper writing upon this Fern,
which was in his time called Female Fern, “the seed of which,” he observes, “ some
authors hold to be so rare,” says, “ such a thing there is, I know, and may be
easily had upon Midsummer eve, and for aught I know, two or three days after
it, if not more.” The supposed circumstance of its seeding upon a single night,
occasioned it to be called in Brown’s pastoral ballads (1613). —

“The wondrous, one-night-seeding feme,”

Butler alludes to this superstitious notion. Hudibras, Part III, cant. iii. 3, 4.

“ That spring like fern, that insect weed,

Equivocally without seed.”

Absurd as these notions are, they were not wholly exploded in the time of
Addison. He laughs at a doctor “ who was arrived at the knowledge of the green
and red dragon, and had discovered the female fern seed.” Then again, in the
dawn of botany and medicine, when affinities and antipathies, or as it was called
the doctrine of signatures, was supposed to rule all things, we find that this Fern
must be good for reed wounds, (punctured wounds) because, Dioscorides saith,
“ the fern dieth if the reed be planted about it ; and, contrarywise, that the reed
dieth if it be compassed with fern,” which, as Gerard justly tells us, “ is vaine
to thinke that it hapneth by any antipathic or naturall hatred, and not by reason
that this feme prospereth not in moist places, nor the reed in dry.” Another
result of the admirable and scientific reasoning of Dioscorides was once prevalent
in this country, that, because Fern seed was invisible, therefore forsooth, those
who carried it about them were rendered invisible also. This circumstance relative
to Fern seed is alluded to in Beaumont and Fletcher’s “ Fair Maid of the Inn

“ Had you Gyges'ring ?

Or the herb that gives invisibility ? ”

Again, in Ben Jenson’s play of the “ New Inn

» I had

No medicine, Sir, to go invisible,

No Fern seed in my pocket.”

Crypto gramma . ]

FERNS.

r tr-

5 /

Also, in Shakspere’s Henry IV., Part I., though here spoken ironically, Gads-
hill says, “ We have the receipt for Fern seed, we walk invisible.”

Several other country adages attach themselves to the Fern, as the following : —

“ When the Fern is as high as a spoon,

You may sleep an hour at noon ;

When the Fern is as high as a table,

You may sleep as long as you’re able.”

Passing however these absurdities, of which many others might have been
adduced, we may remark that very few of our poetical writers have thought the
fern tribe worth their attention. Miss Twamley, however, is an exception ; she
has many passages in the “ Romance of Nature,” and other works, which relate
to them. She speaks of “the Fan-like Ferns, which seem poised still and
sleepily until the morn returns.” In another place,

The Ferns too, are waving all statelily here,

With seed-stored fronds thickly laid;

And shedding, when hastily brushed by the deer,

Their light, fertile dust o’er the glade.

Sit. — Upon barren heaths, in parks and woods, contenting itself occasionally
with any soil or situation ; it delights, however, in sand and strong loam, while
it shuns the limestone and chalk districts ; thus, if I recollect rightly, it is
scarcely found on Salisbury Plain, nor do I remember meeting it any where in
Kent, except in sandy spots. Be it observed, however, that it is not wholly
excluded from chalk and limestone, as I have seen it occasionally on both. It is
not fond of a lofty situation, as, according to Mr. Watson, it is not found in
places more than 500 or 600 yards above sea level.

Geo. — Generally distributed over Europe, and in North America. The
American species varies a little from ours, being rather more finely divided,
somewhat ciliated, and earlier in growth.

CRYPTOGRAMMA, Br. ROCK-BRAKE.

(From KfVTtTog, covered, yfap.p.a, a line ; from the concealed lines of thecae.)

A , portion of a fertile frond of Cryptogramma crispa. B, a pinnule some-
what enlarged. C, ditto with the lateral margins thrown back to show the
ptosition of the fruit. D, transverse section of the pinnule. E, pinnule of a
barren frond . F, a variety of ditto. G, theca thrown open and spores .

Our only plant was long considered a Pteris, because, although very different
in habit , it has, like that genus , its fruit situated near the edge of the frond in
an apparent continued line, the reflexed edge forming its cover. It differs,
however, in having its sori not continued along all the undulations of the whole
frond, but confined to the sides of the separate lobes.

i

D

FERNS.

[ Cryptograrnma .

CRYPTOGRAMMA CRISPA.

ROCK-BRAKE. STONE-FERN. CRI SPED-FERN. FARSLEY-FERN.

(Plate 6, fig. 2.)

Cha. — Frond thrice pinnate. Fertile pinnules oblong, blunt :
barren ones wedge-shaped, cleft, crenate.

Syn. — Cryptograrnma crispa, Hook, in Br. FL, Mock. — Pteris crispa, Linn .
MSS., Willd., Swz., Hull , With,, Smith, Hook, in FI. Sco., — Gsmimda
rupestris, Salisb.—Osmxmda. crispa, Linn, in Sp. PL, Huds., Lightf.,
Bolt. — Stegania onocleoides, Gray. — Onoclea crispa, Roth., Hoffm. —
Allosorus crispus, Bernh., Kaulf., Spreng.

Fig. — E. B. 1160.— Bolt. I.—Flo. Dan. 49 6.—Pluk. Phyt. t. 5./. 2.—
Newm. 18.

Des. — Root slightly creeping, long and fibrous. Frond thrice
pinnate, deciduous, of a very lively green color, 3 to 12 inches high.
Rachis slender, smooth, and shining. Barren pinnules wedge-
shaped or roundish, deeply cut and crenate, pinnse nearly opposite,
but not always so, four or five pairs. Fertile fronds taller and more
robust, but less expanded than the barren ones ; their pinnae more
inclined to be alternate. Pinnules oblong, elliptic, blunt, their crenate
sides turned over upon the sori, which are in lines along each side of
the lobe, distinct only for a very short time at first, then very con-
fluent and crowded.

Sit. — Southey calls this plant the “ Mountain Parsley ; ” an appellation which
well expresses its tender habit, its delicate, lively color, and its numerous, finely
cut, and crisped leaves. Covering large patches as it sometimes does on the tops
of rocky mountains, it adds a bright gleam of verdure and of beauty to its
romantic but barren dwelling place, and becomes an oasis of rich fertility upon
the precipitous face of the otherwise sterile rock.

Hab. — From 200 yards upwards to a considerable elevation in Caernarvon-
shire (top of Snowdon). In Cumberland from 200 or 300 yards to 1040 yards.
In the Highlands, from the low valleys to 1100 yards on Ben-na Baird. More
common in the lake district of England than in Scotland, but frequent in several
parts of the latter, Mr. H. C. Watson. Breiddon Hill (12 miles west of
Shrewsbury), Mr. J. E. Bowman. Greenfield, Saddleworth, Mr. J. Merrick.
Higher parts of the Tees, Mr. Hogg. Common about Settle, Yorkshire, Mr. J.
Tatham. Skiddaw, Helvellyn; Saddleback, Grassmoor, Yale of Newlands, &c.,
Cumberland, Mr. H. C. Watson. On rocks at the foot of Cheviot, above Langley
Ford, Mr. Winch. Near Lancaster, Mr. W. Wilson. — Wal. : Mount Glyder,
Mount Snowdon, and Mynydd Mawr, Caernarvonshire, Mr. C. C. Babington.
Cader Idris, Mr. Burton. North Wales, (abundantly), Mr. W. Christy. — Sco. :
Rosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Glen Tilt and Blair Athol, Perthshire, Mr. W. Brand.
Not rare in Sutherland, Dr. Murray. — Ire. : Abundant on the Mourne Moun-
tains, Mr. Mackay.

Geo. — Lapland, Germany, Switzerland, Pyrenees, Silesia, Sweden, Jutland,
Norway, Dauphiny, Holland.

Adiantum.

59

FERNS.

(From, «

ADIANTUM, Linn. MAIDEN-HAIR.

against, and <hav ra, moisture ; the plants never being wet.)

A. pinnules of Adiantum capillus-veneris, showing the position of the sori and
indusiums. B, an indusium removed, showing the attachment of the sori, one
indusium covering several. C, theca and ring. D, spore.

A very beautiful, delicate, and interesting genus of sixty -three species, indi-
genous to the southern countries of Europe and the tropical regions, this country
being the northern limit of them all. The sori are arranged in spots along the
margin of the pinnules, and covered by part of the frond reflexed. ~>-

ADIANTUM CAPILLUS-VENERIS.

TRUE MAIDEN-HAIR.

(Plate 6, fig. 3.)

Cha. — Frond twice pinnate. Pinnules alternate, wedge-shaped,
lobed, on capillary petioles. Indusium oblong.

Syn. — Adiantum capillus-veneris, Linn., Willd., Smith, Bolt., Licks., HooJc.,
Mack. — Adiantum capillus. Swz. — Adiantum fontanum, Salisb., Gray.
— Adiantum coriandrifolium, Lam.-- -Capillus-veneris verus, Dill, in
Ray’s Syn., Ger.

Fig. — £.5.1564. — Bolt. 29. — Jacq.Misc. t. 7. — Ger. 1143 ( bad ). — Newm. 9.

Des. — Root slightly creeping and very hairy. Rachis slender,
shining, rigid, purplish-black, without pinnse on the lower part.
Pinnse alternate, in young fronds lobed only, afterwards pinnate.
Pinnules wedge-shaped, crenate or cleft at the top, alternate. Sori
marginal, in spots, one near the end of each lobe of the pinnule ;
the apex of which is turned over, forming a white, oblong cover,
to which the fruit itself is attached.

The manner of the expansion of this plant is very singular and interesting.
The young frond is but slightly circinate in vernation, appearing at first with
only one or two small, wedge-shaped pinnules ; after a time these split into
lobes, which lobes become wider, long-stalked, and detached from each other,
forming separate wedge-shaped pinnules, exactly similar to those from which
they were detached, and if the plant be luxuriant, these again divide in a similar
manner ; thus some fronds are found pinnate, others twice, and sometimes
thrice pinnate. The whole plant forms an interesting object for the microscope,
particularly the membranous indusium, which is beautifully veined. The ring
of the theca also is very different from that of any other British Fern. (See cut
of the gemis.)

60

FERNS.

[. Hymenophyllum

Vir. — The properties of Adiantum are very uncertain. Its use is said to
give name to the syrup Capillaire. It has neither fragrance nor flavor, and when
boiled yields only a little mucilage.

Hab. — Port Kerig, Glamorganshire (verified 1834). Banks of the Carron,
a rivulet in Kincardineshire, Professor Beattie. In a small cave on the east side
of Carrach Gladden, a cove on the north coast of Cornwall, between Hayle and
St. Ives, Professor Henslow. Isles of Arran, county of Galway, Dr. Osborne.
At Wrisbeg, on a rock facing south-west on the shore of Loch Bulard, Mr. C. C .
Babington.

Geo. — South Europe, Isles of Bourbon, Teneriffe, Jamaica, and Hispaniola.

HYMENOPHYLLUM, Swz. FILMY PERN.

(opjv, a membrane, <puXAov, a leaf ; or the membranous-leafed Fern.)

A, part of a frond of Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense. B, the same slightly
increased to show the veins of the frond , and the origin and character of the
fruit. C, sorus magnified, and one of its covers removed. D, theca with
transverse ring. E, the same opened. F, spores.

In this small and delicate genus, a lobe of the pinna is contracted into the
fruit and its receptacles , the lamina of the lobe forming two valves, inclosing
between them the midrib, to near the end of which are attached several ringed and
petioled thecae, the annulus of which does not coincide with the petiole, but is
placed transversely . fSee Introduction j .

1.— -HYMENOPHYLLUM TUNBRIDGENSE.

TUNBRIDGE FILMY-FERN.

(Plate 6, fig-. 4.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate. Pinnae pinnatifid, erect. Lobes serrated.
Rachis winged. Involucre orbicular, serrated at the top.

Syn. — Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense, Smith, Willd., Hook., Mack., Swz.,
Gray. — Trichomanes Tunbridgense, Linn., Huds., With., Bolt., Lightf.
— Trichomanes pulchellum, Salisb.

Fig E. B. — 162. — Hook, in Flo. Lon. 71. — Bolt. 31. — Flo. Dan. 954. —

Hedw. 3. — Forst in Flo. Tonb. ( excellent .) Newm. p. 92.

Des. — Root black, fibrous, hairy, extensively creeping, rather
upon than under the surface of the ground. Rachis naked on the
lower part, capillary, black, broadly winged all the way down.
Fronds solitary, at intervals along the creeping stem or root, 1 to
2 inches high, of a light green color. Pinnae alternate, growing
quite upright, their veins dichotomously branched. Lobes sharply

Hymenophyllum .]

FERNS.

61

serrated or toothed, linear and blunt pointed, running into each
other, and seated chiefly on the upper side of what may be called
the midrib of the pinna, but not wholly confined to that side, as in
the next species. Receptacles formed from and in the place of the
last lobe, on the upper side of each pinna ; thus they appear in two
rows, one on each side of the rachis. The receptacle is composed
of two flat or slightly convex, roundish valves, folding over each
other, and sharply serrated at the points ; between which is a free
column covered with thecae.

Sit. — On damp, shady rocks, generally among moss.

Hab. — On the moist and shady sides and fissures of the various rocks near
Tunbridge Wells, viz., the High Rocks, and the rocks in Eridge Park (abundant,
1835), Mr. W. Pamplin. Clefts of the rocks at Wistman’s Wood, Dartmoor ;
rocks by Dunsford Bridge, Becky Fall, &c., Devon, Flo. Dev. Greenfield,
near Saddleworth (very rare), Mr. W. Wilson. Near Halifax, Mr. Leyland.
Near Cader Idris and Dolgelle, Mr. Bowman. Very abundant and fine near the
Upper Lake, Killarney, Mr. W. Wilson. Powerscourt Waterfall, Glencree, and
other places in the county of Wicklow, Mr. Mac/cay.

Geo. — This and probably the next species are scattered over Europe from
Italy to Norway.

2.— HYMENOPHYLLUM WILSONI.

NORTHERN FILMY -FERN. SCOTTISH FILMY-FERN.

(Plate 6, fig. 5.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate. Pinnae semi-pinnatifid, recurved. Lobes
serrate. Rachis not winged. Receptacle ovate, entire.

Syn. — Hymenophyllum Wilsoni, Hook in Br. Flo., Mack., Netvrn.

Fig. — E. B. , suppl. 2686. Newm., p. 94.

Des.— Rachis rigid, capillary, winged at the top. Frond 1 or
2 inches high, dark green. Pinnae alternate, bent backwards,
growing horizontally rather than vertically as in the last species,
besides which the lobes curve downwards, so that when the edge of
them is looked at they have a falcate appearance, although they
are oblong and blunt, and it may be added, very sharply serrated.
When in fruit, all the leafy expansions turn in one direction, and
the fruit in the opposite. The receptacles are situated as in the last
species, but are larger, very convex, perfectly ovate, and entire.

The absence of wings to the rachis, the different habit, the semi-pinnatifid
character of the pinnae, and the entire, convex receptacles, serve to distin-
guish this from Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense, with which it was confounded,
until shown to be distinct by that accurate botanist, Mr. W. Wilson. — Miss
Beever has sent me fronds from Coniston, which are much branched.

Sit. — On moist alpine rocks, near waterfalls, Sec.

62

FERNS.

[Trichomanes .

Hab. — Waterfall above Ambleside, Westmoreland, Mr. J. Bowerbank.
Black Rocks of Great End, in the Scawfell range, and at Scale Force, near
Buttermere, Cumberland, (1833,) Mr. H. C. Watson. Greenfield, near
Saddleworth, and near Silverdale, Lancashire, MissBeever. — Wal.: On Snowdon,
near Llanberris Pass, and on the adjacent mountains, especially near Twll Du,
Mr. W. Wilson. Rocks about Nant Phrancon, in situations from 200 to
650 yards of elevation, Mr. H. C. Watson. On rocks, near the Rhydol,
Montgomeryshire, at a plank over a dangerous gulph of the river Pont Bren,
Mr. E. Lees. — Sco.: Finlarig Burn, near Killin, Perthshire, Mr. Wilson.
Argyleshire, Mr. J. Hooker.— Ire. : At Killarney, (very plentiful,) Mr. Wilson.
Shanafolia Mountain, Mr. C. C. Baling ton. Kerry Mountains, Cunnemara, & c.,
Mr. Mack ay.

TRICHOMANES, Linn. BRISTLE-FERN.

(fyir TPtX°?> a hah*, and (Mtvog, loose or long ; from the free hairs which terminate

the receptacles.)

A, pinnule of Trichomanes Irevisetum. B, portion of ditto with fruit , enlarged.
C, ditto , still more greatly enlarged, to show the loose cellular structure of the
frond. D, longitudinal section of the sorus magnified. E, theca , with trans-
verse ring. F, spores.

All the species of this beautiful genus , amounting to forty -six in number , are
very cellular and tender , their fruit attached to the midrib of a lobe, as in the
last genus, but here the receptacle is one-valved, and the midrib not terminated
by the thecce, and confined within the receptacle, but projecting much beyond it,
and like a hair in appearance. We have but one species, and that very rare.

TRICHOMANES BREVISETUM.

SHORT* STILED BRISTLE-FERN. CUP GOLDILOCKS.

(Plate 6, fig. 6.)

Cha. — Frond thrice pinnatifid. Lobes linear, entire. Rachis
winged. Receptacles urceolate.

Syn. — Trichomanes brevisetum, Hort. Kew ., Hook, in B. FI., Smith in
E. FI., Mack. — -Trichomanes alatum, Hook, in Flo. Lon. N. S., Swz.,
(Not of Willd .) — Trichomanes pyxidiferum, Huds., Bolt., With., Hull.
— Hymenophyllum alatum, Smith in E. B., Willd. — Hymenophyllum
Tunbridgense /3, Smith in FI. Br.

Fig. — E. B. 1417. — Ray. Syn. t. 3, f. 3. — Bolt. 30. — Flo. Lon. 53. —
Newm., page 88.

Des. — Root very thick, black, and densely hairy. Rachis smooth
and winged all the way down. Frond pellucid, membranous,
dichotomously branched in all its parts, 6 to 12 inches high, dark
green. Pinnse alternate, twelve or fourteen pair, vertical, much cleft,
lobes ultimately linear, but every where running much into each

FILICFS

FLATS. VIZ

Osmunda.

FERNS.

63

other, their veins conspicuous, prominent, and beautifully branched.
Receptacles pitcher-shaped, taking- the place of lobes, but not con-
fined to those nearest the main stem, as in the last genus.

Has. — Near Killarney, in several situations, Mr. W. Wilson. Hermitage,
in the county of Wicklow, Mr. Nutt all. Powerscourt Waterfall, Mr. Mackay.
Once found in Ballinhasy Glen, near Cork, by Mr. J. Drummond. Its situation
at Turk Waterfall, Killarney, is thus described by Mr. Newman : — “ I here found
it to the left of the seat whence tourists take the first view of the fall. About
15 yards higher up the stream, the rocky bank on the left projects into the river ;
this projection is only to be approached by leaping from stone to stone, along the
bed of the torrent, which in time of flood is rather an exciting and ticklish
operation : you are so close to the fall as to be covered by the spray, and the roar
is almost deafening. Having reached the projection, the botanist must ascend it
by means of the roots and branches, a feat very readily performed ; and there is a
little platform at the top, where he can stand very comfortably ; and while so
standing, he will find the rocky bank just on a level with his eyes, completely
covered with Trichomanes, the dark green fronds hanging heavily down, dripping
with wet, and if the sun happen to shine, begemmed with sparkling drops.”
Glendine, near Youghal, county of Cork, is another habitat for this plant, as
discovered by Mr. Ball, of Dublin. It grows here in great luxuriance.

Geo. —St. Domingo, Jamaica, the Caribees, Madeira, &c.

OSMUNDA, Linn. ROYAL-FERN.

( Osmund , Sax., strength; this being the largest and strongest of our Ferns (?)

A, portion of a frond of Osmunda regalis, natural size. B, mass of fruit
magnified. C, theca separated. D, ditto splitting open. E, spores. F, trans-
verse section of the stem. G, cuticle of a pinnule. H, cuticle of the stem.

In this genus the upper part of the leafy frond becomes changed into a com-
pound spi/ce of fructification , without any indusium, receptacle , or annulus.
Osmunda is a small genus, the species of which very much resemble each other in
size and character. They are natives of Europe and North America.

OSMUNDA REGALIS.

ROYAL-FERN. WATER-FERN. FLOWERING-FERN.

(Plate 7, fig. 1.)

Cha. — Frond bipinnate. Pinnules oblong, nearly entire, slightly
auricled. Sori terminal.

Syn. — Osmunda regalis, Linn., Willd., Bolt., and all modern botanists.

Fig. — E. B. 209.— Bolt. h.—Flo. Dan. 217.— Flo. Lon. 150.— Ger. 1131.—
Newm., page 97.

64

FERNS.

[ Botrychium .

Des. — Root a thick, short, scaly, and fibrous tuber. Rachis
.smooth, rigid, upright. Fronds several, 3 to 6 feet high, bright
green, twice pinnate. Pinna; distant, nearly opposite. Pinnules
almost sessile, oblong, blunt, with waved or slightly crenate edges,
frequently auricled. Those pinnae- on the top of the frond are either
wholly or partially changed into fructification, when they appear
like a compound spike, each bunch of which seems composed of a
number of circular bundles of capsules. The thecae are petioled and
beautifully reticulated. Spores nearly globular.

Vir. — The internal parts of the root, as well as the young fronds, were once
used in pharmacy as a cure for bruises, and as conferring strength.

Sit. — In wet woods, swampy moors, &c. (See, Introduction, page 11.)

IIab. — Sco. : Head of Loch Fine, to the N. E. of Inverary, Argyleshire, and
near Loch Lomond, (Dumbarton side,) Mr. H. C. Watson. At the side of the
loch at Inchnedamfr, Sutherlandshire, Dr. Johnston. Aberdeenshire and coast of
Kincardineshire, Dr. Murray. — Eng.: Warwickshire, Rev. W.Bree. Ellesmere
Lakes and West Felton, Salop, .Mr. W. Leighton. Plentiful at Speke, near
Liverpool, Mr. T. B. Hall. Chat Moss, Mr. W. Christy. Woolston Moss and
other places near Warrington, Lancashire, Mr, W. Wilson. Isle of Man, Mr.
Forbes. Pottery Car, near Doncaster, Mr. S. Appleby. Near Leeds, Mr.
Denny. Bui well, Notts, (near the upper mill,) Mr. T. H. Cooper. Norfolk,
Miss Bell. Kavanah’s Wood, Great Warley Common ; also near the barracks,
on Little Warley Common, Mr. R. Castle. Near Leith Hill, Surrey ; and in
several places from 5 to 8 miles S. W. of Dorking, Mr. W. Pamplin. On
Bagshot Heath, Mr. J. Lloyd. In a wet shady spot, by the river side, between
Frimley Village and Frimley Green, Surrey ; also sparingly on Esher Common,
by the entrance to the lane leading thence towards Epsom, Mr. H. C. Watson.
Tonbridge, Mr. Trevelyan. Corner of the lake at Uckfield, Sussex, near
Chudleigh, on the banks of the Teign ; also near Ivy Bridge on the Erme ; and on
the Goonhilly Downs, about St. Ives, Jones's Tour. Isle of Wight, Rev. G. E.
Smith. — Ire. : Mucruss Abbey, Mr. Kelly. Castlebar, Mayo, Dr. Osborne.
Kelly’s Glen, Co. Dublin, &c., Mr. Mach ay.

Geo. — Europe, chiefly the northern parts, and all the United States.

BOTRYCHIUM, Linn. MOON-WORT.

(From fiolpog, a bunch ; as its fruit is borne in clusters.)

D

<J &

A, fertile branched spike of fruit of Botrychium lunaria. B, part of ditto
enlarged. C, ditto with the thecce opened. D, spores. E, transverse section
of the stem.

The fruit in this somewhat extensive genus is produced upon a compound spike
distinct from the leafy expansion, though attached to it at the stem. The thecce
are opaque and sessile. There is only one British species. (Tee Introduction.)

Botrychium. j

FERNS.

6;>

BOTRYCHIUM LUNARIA.

COMMON MOON-WORT.

(Plate 7, fig. 2.)

Cha. — Frond pinnate, solitary. Lobes flabelliform, crenate.

Syn. — Botrychium lunaria, Swz., Willd., Hook., Mack., Smith in E. FI.,
Gray. — Osmunda lunaria, Linn., Smith in FI. Br. and E. B., Bolt., Lam.,
Dicks., Ehrh. — Osmunda lunata, Salisb. — Lunaria minor, Ger., Ray ,
Matth., Camer., Fuchs., Gesner, 8fc.

Fig. — E. B. 318. — Bolt. 4. — Flo. Dan. 18, f. 1. — Flo. Lon. 66.—Newm.,p.
100.

Des. — Root of thick, smooth, yellow fibres. Frond of a dull,
yellowish green, 2 to 6 inches high, rarely more than one from a
root, quite smooth in every part. Stem hollow, rather succulent,
half way up it divides into two branches, one being a pinnatifid or
pinnate frond, the other the fruit. Pinnules of the leafy part five
or six pair, opposite, decurrent, fan-shaped, regularly crenate.
Fruit covering the upper part of the other branch of the stem in a
compound spike, not in aggregate clusters, as in Osmunda, but
separate, though nearly touching each other, and arranged in single
lines along the branches of the spike. The thecse are opaque,
sessile, round, smooth, yellow at first, afterwards brown. Spores
oval, smooth, generally attached to each other in pairs.

V ir. — Its virtues are more imaginary than real, more magical than physical.
Its name Lunaria, or Moon-wort, is taken from the shape of the leaves, and
gathered by the light of the moon, was said to “ doo wonders.’ ’ Gerard men-
tions a remarkable instance of the properties attributed to it by the alchemists
and witches, “that it will loose locks, and make them fall from the feet of
horses that do grase where it doth grow ; ” “ too drowsie a dream” for even the
credulous Gerard to believe ; but he adds, that it is “ singular for wounds.”

Sit. — In pastures chiefly in the northern and mountainous countries.

Hab. — Sco. : Bernerside Hill, W. of Berwickshire, Mr. W. Baird. South
side of Loch Tay, and ascending to 3000 feet on adjacent mountains ; Clova and
Pentland Hills, &c. Mr. H. C. Watson. Blair Athol, Perthshire, Mr. W. Brand.
Moray, Rev. G. Gordon. Orkney, Rev. C. Clouston. Aberdeenshire, Dr.
Murray. — Eng. : Sea banks near Tynemouth, Northumberland, Miss Hancock.
Higher Tees, Mr. J. Hogg. Newcastle Town Moor, Mr. R. Bowman. Common
about Settle, Yorkshire, Mr. J. Tatham. Warwickshire, Rev. W. Bree. South-
port, Lancashire, Mr. Rylands. Greenfield, near Manchester, Mr. J. Merrick.
Cheshire and Derbyshire, Mr. W. Wilson. Pottery Car, Mr. S. Appleby.
Clifton, Norton, Fiskerton, Newstead, and Sherwood Forest, Notts, Mr. T. H.
Cooper. Shotover Hill, Oxen, Mr. Baxter. Linton, Cambridgeshire, Mr. C.
C. Babington. Near Titchborne, Hants (1836), Mr. Forder. Leith Hill, Surrey;
Shirley Common, near Croydon, Surrey; between Dartford and Foot’s Cray,
Kent ; and S. W. of Petersfield, Hants, Mr. W. Pamplin. Deep Dean, near
Dorking, Mr. J. Nash. South Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. Near Barnstaple,
Devon (1836). — Wal. : Near Wrexham, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Near Rodney’s
Pillar, Montgomeryshire, Rev. A. Bloxam. Craig Breidden, Mr. Dovaston.

Geo. — Throughout North Europe and North Asia.

K

66

PERNS.

[Ophioglossum.

OPHIOGLOSSUM, Linn. ADDER’S- TONGUE.

(From oyig, a serpent, and yXocraa, a tongue.)

A, fertile and barren frond of Ophioglossum vulgatum. B, fertile frond
after it has shed its spores. C, cuticle . D, transverse section of the stem. E,
root and vernation. F, spores.

This genus bears its fruit in a simple spike attached to a leafy frond. The
theca are connected not only to each other , but attached by their whole base to
the stem which bears them ; when ripe they open transversely. There are twelve
foreign species of this genus , inhabitants of Europe and North America.

OPHIOGLOSSUM VULGATUM.

COMMON ADDERS-TONGUE.

(Plate 7, fig. 3.)

Cha.— Frond entire, solitary, ovate, obtuse.

Syn. — Ophioglossum vulgatum of most Botanists. — Ophiog. ovatum, Salisb.

Fig. — E. B. 108. — Bolt. 3. — Flo. Lon. 78. — Flo. Dan. 147. — Ger. 404. —
Sckh. 153. — Newm.p. 103.

Des.— -Root composed of a few stout, yellow, smooth fibres,
running horizontally. Frond of one entire, upright leaf, ovate,
blunt, 2 to 6 inches high, of a lurid green color. Stem tapering
downwards, and hollow. Fruit in a single, unbranched, stalked,
and pointed spike, connected with the leafy expansion. Thecse
yellow, opaque, sessile, in two single rows, connected with each
other, so that after the round, smooth, yellow seeds are dispersed, a
number of transverse clefts are seen along each side of the spike.
Sometimes found with more than one spike, at other times the leaf-
like frond is deeply cleft at the top.

Vir. — It is considered by the country people as valuable to form an ointment
for wounds, and for this purpose is gathered by baskets-full ; for be it observed
that in some parts of the country it is almost as abundant as the herbage
among which it grows.

Sit. — In meadows and moist pastures in most parts of the kingdom. (See
Introduction.')

Hab — Sco. : Dalmeny Woods, near Edinburgh, Mr. W. Brand. Orkney,
Rev. C. Clouston. Balmuto, Miss Boswell. Carlowrie, Mr. Falconer. Eng: —
Middleton-one-row, Durham, Mr. R. Bowman. Round Howe, near Richmond,
Yorkshire, Mr. J. Ward. West Felton, Salop, Mr. W. Leighton. Warwick-
shire, Rev. W. Bree. Field behind Heawood Hall, Alderley, Cheshire, Mr. H.

FERNS.

67

P Malaria. ]

Watson. Near Warrington, Lancashire, Mr. W. Wilson. Near Braunston,
Leicestershire, Rev. A. Bloxam. Heanor, Derbyshire, and Colwick, Notts, Dr.
Hoivitt, Pottery Car, Mr. S. Appleby. Near Bristol, Miss Worsley. Somerset,
Mr. A. Southby. Norfolk, Miss Bell. At the side of the pond, in Wike Farm,
Sion Lane, Isleworth ; near the ladder stile, Osterley Park, near Brentford,
Middlesex; and 4 miles south of Dorking (abundant), Mr. J. Bevis. Various
parts of Surrey, Kent, Herts, and Hants, Mr. W. Pamplin. Meadows of Long
Leet, Wiltshire, Mr. Rowden. Sussex, Mr. H. C. Watson. Near Slateford, Near
Barnstaple, Devon, Mr. J. Nash — Wal. : Near Wrexham, Mr. J. E. Bowman.
— Ire. : Lawn of the Observatory, Dunsink, Mr. Kelly. Not unfrequent in
Ireland, Mr. Mackay.

Geo. — Throughout Europe, and from New York to Pennsylvania in North
Amei'ica.

PILULARIA. — -PILL- WORT.

(From Pilula, a little pil ; from the shape of its seed-vessels.)

A, frond of Pilularia globulifera magnified , showing the vernation , rhizoma,
and roots in different states. B, cross section of the root. C, of the seed vessel.
D, one quarter of ditto still further magnified, showing the spores and bays of
granules. E, spore and abortive granules, the latter burst open. F, spore. G,
point of ditto in germination. H, front view of the end of ditto in germination .
I and J, germination still further advanced. K, cuticle of the stem. L, mem-
brane which divides the root into various cells. M, hair from an involucrum ; a ,
its point of attachment. The germination taking place from a determinate
jooint, shows that the word spore is as relative to the Pilularia a misnomer, and
that the reproductive grains are real seeds. These figures are taken from Mr.
Valentine's paper mentioned in the Introduction.

PILULARIA GLOBULIFERA.

CREEPING PILL-WORT. PEPPER-GRASS.

(Plate 4, fig. 10.)

Ciia.— Leaves filiform. Stem creeping. Receptacles coriaceous,
hairy, nearly radical.

Syn. — Pilularia globulifera of all botanists.

Fig. — E. B. 521. — Bolt. 40. — Flo. Dan. 223. — Hook, in Flo. Lon. 83.

Des. — Stem very long, cylindrical, and creeping close to the
ground, throwing off at intervals of half an inch, or more several

68

FERNS.

[ Isoetes.

simple, very small, smooth, radical fibres, and from the same part
upwards from two to six filiform, hollow, green leaves, about 2 inches
long, among which, at their base, grow one or two receptacles, not
radical, as generally said, but attached to the upper part of the stem,
and therefore, although near the roots, not attached to them. The
receptacles are round like a pepper- corn, (hence the name of the
plant,) brown and hairy. The spores are oblong, contracted in the
middle, and slightly pointed at one end.

Sit. — Tools of water, edges of lakes, &c. not uncommon.

Hab. — Sco. : Near Inverskin, Sutherland, Mr. Campbell. Marshy ground
between the village of Currie and the Pentland Hills, Edinburgh Mr. H.
Watson. Near Slateford, Forfarshire, Mr. W. Brand. — Eng.: Prestwich, near
Northumberland, Mr. R. Bowman. Coleshill Pool, Warwickshire, Rev. W.
Bree. Bomere Pool, Salop, Rev. E. Williams. Near Richmond, Yorkshire,
Mr. J. Ward. Beam Heath, near Nantwich, Cheshire, Mr. J. E. Bowman.
Once plentiful at Bartington Heath, Cheshire, and still found at Baguley Moor, in
the same county, Mr. W. Wilson. Filby and Hopton Commons, near Yarmouth,
Mr. Paget. Once and perhaps still in the ponds at Roehampton, Surrey ; and
on Iver Heath, Middlesex, G. F. In a small pool between Okeshot Hill and
Claremont Park, Surrey, Mr. H. C. Watson. Sussex, Rev. G. E. Smith.
Grosvenor and Roche, Cornwall, Jones's Hot. Tour.~W al. : Near Llanfaeloy,
Anglesea ; and border of Llyn Idwel, Caernarvonshire, Mr. W. Wilson.

Geo. — Most parts of Europe.

ISOETES, Linn. QUILLWORT.

(From jcrof, equal, and era;, the year ; the plant being evergreen.)
PLATE OF GENERA, FIG. XVIII.

A, lower part of a plant of Isoetes lacustris, natural size. B, portion of the
filiform leaf much magnified. C, receptacle of the larger kind of fruit. D,
receptacle of the smaller granules. E, spore magnified. F, arrangement of four
spores upon one of the transverse bars of the receptacles , as described in the
Introduction, p.\2. G, section of the receptacle which bears fertile spores.
H, section of the abortive sporules.

ISOETES LACUSTRIS.

EUROPEAN QUILLWORT. MERLIN’S GRASS.

Cha. — Leaves subulate, bluntly quadrangular, formed of four
transversely-jointed longitudinal cells.

Lycopodium .] ferns. 69

Syn. — Isoetes lacustris of all modern botanists.

Fig. — E. B.—WM.—Flo. Lon. N. S. 131 .—Bolt. 41.— Flo. Dan. 191.—
Schk. fil. 173.

Des. — Root tufted, composed of long, branched, smooth fibres.
Leaves radical, tufted, filiform or subulate, 2 to 4 inches high,
light green, and very brittle. Receptacles formed of the base of
the leaves : the outer, which are also the larger and older leaves,
bearing perfect seeds ; the inner and younger leaves produce finer
granules, as explained in the Introduction.

Mr. W. Wilson finds two varieties in Wales ; the one densely tufted, with
slender, erect leaves, the other with broader and widely-spreading leaves.
The former of these, Dr. Hooker thinks may be the Isoetes setacea of Bose.
Sprengel says, “that the plant grows at the bottom of carp ponds, where it would
not be of very easy access, did not the fish assist the botanist by disengaging
it from the mud, when it is found floating at the edges of the pond.”

Sit. — Found only in the extreme north of Wales, north of England, and in
Scotland, which is a curious circumstance, because submersed water plants are
not in general so strictly confined to particular latitudes or altitudes.

Hab. — Sco. : Loch Callader, Aberdeenshire, and Loch Brandy, Forfarshire,
Mr. W. Brand. Loch Whirral, Forfarshire, Dr. Graham. Loch Tay, Perth-
shire, Dr. Greville. Most of the Scottish Lakes, Mr. H. C. Watson. — Ire. :
Lakes in the Rosses, Donegal, Rev. Mr. Murphy. — Eng. and Wal. : Prestwick
Carr, Northumberland, B. G. Ulswater, Cumberland, Mr. Williams. Coniston
lake, Miss Beever. In Llyn-y-cwm, Pfynnon Frich (Snowdon), Eake Ogwan,
and Llanberris lakes ; also in Floutern Tarn, between Scale Face and Whitehaven,
Mr. W. Wilson. Lakes of Denbighshire, Mr. J. E. Bowman.

Geo. — More copious in Sweden and Denmark than elsewhere. New York
and northwards in America.

LYCOPODIUM, Linn. CLUB-MOSS.

(From Aimo;, a wolf, and mvg, m$og, a foot ; the ends of the stems appearing

like the hairy feet of some animals.)

A, spike of fruit of Lycopodium selayinoides, natural size. B, two leaves or
bracts of ditto ; one showing the larger grains , the other the receptacle for the
smaller. C, receptacle opening and scattering the granules. D, cuticle of a
leaf. E, section of the stem. F, spore. G, abortive granule.

A very extensive genus of no less than 140 species, found in all parts of the
world, some in the hotter , and others in the colder countries. Six only are
natives of Britain, and these are far inferior in beauty of appearance to many
of foreign growth. The Lycopodiums were always taken for and called Mosses

70

FERNS.

f Lycopodium .

by the old botanists ; and they do indeed resemble that tribe in many of their
external characters, having sessile, smooth , entire, or at most serrated leaves.
Their fruit, however, is greatly different ; most species of the Lycopodiums
bear it in terminal scaly spilces, in a few others, among which is our Lycopodium
selago, the fruit is not confined to the apex of the branches, but is found in the
axils of the leaves throughout the whole plant. The root grows from every part
of the stem which touches the ground.

LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM.

COMMON CLUB-MOSS. FOX-TAIL. STAGGS-HORN. WOLF’S- CLAW.

(Plate 6, fig. 1.)

Cha.— -Stem trailing. Leaves linear, incurved, hair-pointed.
Thecae in naked, stalked, double spikes. Scales ovate, serrate.

Syn.— Lycopodium clavatum of most botanists.-— Muscus clavatus sen
Lycopodium, Ger. Park., 8fc. — Lycopodium officinale, Neck.— Lepidotis
clavata, Beauv.

Fig. — E. B. 224.-— Ger. 1562.-— Phytologist. No. 1. p. 1.

Des.— Root fibrous, scattered. Stem branched, several feet long,
lying on the ground, bright green. Leaves crowded, linear,
curved, with a long, diaphanous, hair-like point. Spike of fruit
cylindrical, usually in pairs, yellow, about an inch long, supported
upon a rigid, upright, long stem, which is void of leaves, but set at
intervals with whorls of very fine, short setae. Scales of the spikes
broadly ovate, pointed, and dentate or serrate. Thecae large, round,
one to three, attached to the base of each scale, and filled with a
very fine yellow powder.

Vir. — For the virtues of this plant, see page 16; in addition to which it is
said to be used to ameliorate wines, but its emetic properties render this
doubtful.

Sit. and Hab.— -On hill-sides, particularly in the northern part of the king-
dom, but not ascending to so lofty a situation as some other species. Hoy Hill,
Orkney, Rev. C. Clouston. Plentiful in the Highlands, in Cumberland, and in
North Wales, Mr. H. C. Watson. Charlewood Forest, Leicestershire, Rev. A.
Bloxam. Todmorden, Lancashire, Mr. W. Wilson. Settle, Yorks., Mr. J.
Tatham. Derbyshire, Dr. Howitt . Coleshill, Warwickshire, Rev W. Bree.
Notts, Mr. T. H. Cooper. Oxfordshire, Mr. Baxter. Somerset, Mr. A. Southby.
Woking Heath, Surrey, between the Canal and Railway, 2 or 300 yards S.W.
of the Station-house, Mr. H. C. Watson. Lane between Dorking and Leith
Hill, and on Addington Hills, beyond Croydon, Surrey ; also on the high heathy
ground above Tring, Herts, Mr. W. Pamplin. Sussex, Rev. G. E. Smith.
■ — Ire. : Kelly’s Glen, Ballynascorney, and other places on the Dublin Moun-
tains, Mr. Mackay.

Geo. — In most of the northern parts of Europe and Asia, and from Canada
to Pennsylvania in America.

ZYCQF ODZA C J-L'JE

JP.L.ATJZ . YZL T.

I

'j-.Frd.nczs. riel, el sc

Lycopodium.]

FERNS,

71

2.— LYCOPODIUM annotinum.

INTERRUPTED CLUB-MOSS.

(Plate 5, fig. 2.)

Cha. — Stem procumbent. Leaves in five rows, lanceolate, acute,

spreading. Spikes simple, scales broadly ovate, imbricated.

Syn. — Lycopodium annotinum, Linn., Willd., Spreng., Smith, Hooker ,
Ehrh., Huds., Lightf., With., Pursh, Gray. — Lepidotis annotina , Beauv.

Fig. — E. B. 1727 — FI. Dan. 127.— Dill. Muse. 63,/. 9 .—Schk.fil. 162.

Des. — Root of stout and scattered fibres. Stem very long and
trailing, dichotomously branched, of a dullish, green color, and
extending in length from year to year. Branches simple or nearly
so when fruitful, upright at first, afterwards becoming decumbent.
Leaves in five rows, lanceolate, acute, spreading, entire or very
slightly serrated. Fertile spike solitary, sessile, terminal, an inch
long, scales very short, very broad, pointed, and imbricated.

Sir J. E. Smith says, that “ the scales of the spike of one season falling off, the
stem thus left naked gives rise the following season to leaves, but these not being
so numerous as in the other parts of the plant, the stem acquires an interrupted
habit.” I cannot reconcile this to the appearance of my specimens, but rather
suppose that, as in the former species the spike wholly falls off, and the next year’s
shoot puts forth more vigorous leaves than those which terminated the whole stem,
thus giving the jointed appearance which the plant presents ; but I have never seen
it in a fresh state, and therefore write this with hesitation.

Sit. — On the highest Welch and Scottish mountains.

Hab. — Pretty frequent between 500 and 850 yards on the mountains of
Clova, and the W. of Aberdeenshire ; I have never seen it above 900 or below
400 yards ; Glen Dole, Forfar, and mountains adjacent ; Ben-na-Baird, Loch-
na-garr, &c. Aberdeen, Mr. H. C. Watson. Freewater, Rosshire, Mr. Staples.
Hoy Hill, Orkney, Rev. C. Clouston. Summit of Cairngorum, Sir W. J. Hooker.
Still found on Glyder Vawr, Snowdon, but reduced to a solitary root, and when
last seen, (1836,) without fructification, Mr. W. Wilson. Charnwood Forest,
Leicestershire, Rev. A. Bloxam. This is remarkable as being the only English
habitat recorded. (See “Naturalist,” vol. ii. page 135.) Not in Mr. Mackay’s
“ Flora Hibernica.”

Geo. — Europe in mountainous countries ; in America, from Canada to Penn-
sylvania ; also in N. Asia.

3.— LYCOPODIUM INUNDATUM.

MARSH CLUB-MOSS.

(Plate 5, fig. 3.)

Cha. — Stem creeping. Branches simple, erect. Leaves and
scales linear, acute, curved upwards. Spikes solitary.

72

FERNS.

[Lycopodium .

Syn. — Lycopodium inundatum of botanists. — Plananthus inundatus, Beauv.

Fig.— E. B. 239. — Flo. Dan. 336. — Dillen Muse 62,/. 7, {good.)

Des.— Stem very closely appressed to the ground, 1 to 2 inches
long, and but slightly branched, bearing fibrous roots all along its
lower surface. Branches simple, barren ones decumbent, fertile
ones upright. Leaves irregularly placed, crowded, linear lanceolate,
acute, all turned upwards. Spikes solitary, terminal, green, 1 inch
long, quite erect. Scales linear, dilated at the base, curved upwards,
entire or with one or two teeth only in luxuriant specimens.

This plant, which, like the rest of its tribe, is perennial, shows very strikingly
the manner of growth of all the creeping species, though there are few of them
so rapid in their decay as this. It creeps along the ground, and grows at one
end as it decays at the other ; thus if its habitat be a level piece of mud, as it
generally is on commons, &c., the effect is easily seen in a black mark or line
of the decayed plant, sometimes for many inches beyond where it is then
vegetating. It ceases to grow in the winter, but continues to decay ; thus very
many plants are exterminated, and only the vigorous ones have strength to put
forth new foliage, of these a very small portion generally remains, and thus it
is that the plants are always small in the early part of the season.

Sit. — On wet moors and commons, particularly where turf has been pared.

Hab.— Near Loch Lee, Nairnshire, Mr. W. Stables. Near Craig Darrock,
Rosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Delamere Forest, Bartington Heath ; and Bagueley
Moor, Cheshire, Mr. W. Wilson. Coleshill, Warwickshire, Rev. W. Bree.
Valley near Csesar’s Camp, Wimbledon Common, Surrey ; bogs near Titchborne
Church, Hants, (1836;) Putney Heath; Bagshot Heath; Shirley Common,
Surrey ; and Keston Heath, Kent, Mr. W. Pamplin. Esher Common and
Cobham Common, Surrey, Mr. R. Castle. Filby, Belton, Yarmouth, Norfolk,
Mr. Paget. Sussex and South Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. Bovey Heathfield,
Devon, Mr. Babington. Not in Ireland.

Geo. — Europe, Isles of Bourbon (?) Canada to New York.

4.— LYCOPODIUM SELAGINOIDES.

PRICKLY CLUB-MOSS. MOUNTAIN-MOSS.

(Plate 5, fig. 4.)

Cha. — Stems procumbent. Leaves lanceolate, acute. Spikes
large, solitary. Scales ovate, deeply toothed.

Syn. — Selaginella spinosa, Beauv. — Lycopodium selaginoides of modern
authors. — Bernhardia spinosa, Gray.

Fig. — E. B. 1148. — Flo. Dan. 70. — Dill. Mus. 68,/. 1. — SchJc.fil. 165.

Des. — Stems creeping, slightly branched, 2 or 3 inches long.
Barren branches delicate, recumbent, simple. Fertile branches up-
right, rigid, bearing a solitary spike. Leaves lanceolate, acute,
toothed, imbricated, bright green. Spike large, oblong, cylindrical,

Lycopodium .]

FERNS.

73

yellowish, and terminal. Scales much larger and wider than the
leaves, and deeply toothed, spreading widely on account of the very
large capsules.

This plant shows very well the two sorts of capsules ; those in the lower part
being what in the Introduction are called spores, while the upper capsules
contain only a fine powdery mass, considered pollen by some authors, and
abortive seeds by others. Mr. T. G. Rylands, alluding to some specimens gathered
on Seaforth Common, near Liverpool, says truly, “that plants of this species
are of a brighter color than the rest, and that when growing they appear to
form small thick tufts about an inch in height and diameter.”

Sit. — On mountain sides, and in moist alpine situations.

Hab. — Hoy Hill, Orkney, Rev. C. Clouston. Ben Lawers, Mr. H. C. Cooper.
Ben Lomond, Mr. TV. Leighton. North coast of Sutherland, at the sea level,
Dr. Johnston. Rare in Aberdeenshire, Dr. Murray. Moray and Rosshire,
Rev. G. Gordon. Abundant in the Highlands, rising to situations of 1000 yards
or more in height, on the Breadalbane mountains, Perthshire. Pretty frequent
on the hills of Cumberland, as around Borrowdale, Keswick, Derwentwater, &c.,
Mr. H. C. Watson. Near Richmond, Yorkshire, Mr. J. Ward. In wet places
among sand-hills on the coast of Anglesea, near Aberffraw, and on the coast of
Lancashire, near Southport, Mr. W. Wilson. Higher parts of the Tees, Mr. J.
Hogg. Caernarvonshire, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Wyn-ddur, Arddu, Snowdon,
Mr. C. Babington. Capel Curig, Dr. Howitt. Llanberris Pass and Nant
Phrancon, Mr. Watson. Various parts of Ireland, Mr. H. C. Mach ay.

Geo. — Sprengel says, only found in Europe at Bremen, Oldenburgh, Silesia,
Bavaria, and Switzerland. In Canada and New Hampshire, in America, ac-
cording to Pursh, who says the American is smaller than the English plant.

5.— LYCOPODIUM ALPINUM.

SAVINE-LEAVED CLUB-MOSS.

(Plate 8, fig. 5.)

Cha.— Stem procumbent, branches fascicled, flat at top. Leaves
and scales in four rows.

Syn. — Lycopodium alpinum of almost all botanists. — Lycopodium sabinse-
folium, Pursh. — Lepidotis alpina, Beauv.

Fig.— .E. B. 234. — Flo. Dan. 79.— Dill. Mus. 58, f. 2.

Des. —Roots scattered, long, with stout, branched, downy fibres.
Stem 2 to 4 feet in length, creeping quite close to the ground, very
rigid, irregularly leafy. Branches alternate, set along the stem at
uncertain intervals, in an upright, rigid, close or fan-shaped fascicle,
level at the top. Leaves blunt, oblong, imbricated in four rows,
rather convex. Spikes terminating all the older branches, erect, an
inch or less in length, and compact. Scales pointed, broad at the
base, tapering upwards, with waved edges, sometimes with two or
three teeth, flatter and less rigid than the leaves.

Vir. — According to Sir W. J. Hooker it is used to dye woollen cloths of a
yellow color.

74

FERNS.

[. Lycopodium .

Sit.— -On the grassy sides of mountains.

Hab. — At 1000 yards of elevation on Carnedd David, Caernarvonshire,
probably 1200 yards in Aberdeenshire ; also to the summit of Ben Hope, in
Sutherland, at 1000 yards or thereabouts, where the climate is probably less
genial than that at 1200 yards in Aberdeenshire ; to 1150 yards on Ben Nevis,
and descending to the base of the mountains. Too plentiful on all the mountain
tracts of Scotland to call for particular localities. On most of the Cumberland
and Yorkshire mountains, Mr. H. C. Watson . Somerset, Mr. A. Southby .
Near Todmorden, Lancashire, at a very low elevation (a single root only), Mr.
W. Wilson. — Ire. : Aghla and Barnesmore mountains, Donegal, Mr. E. Murphy „
Barnesmoor Mountain, and Mourne Mountain, Mr. MacJeay. Brandon Moun-
tain, Mr. W. Wilson .

Geo.— All the northern and mountainous part of Europe, as Lapland, Ger-
many, Switzerland, Pyrenees, the Tyrol, Sweden, Norway, Russia, &c. Also in
Canada and Siberia.

6.— LYCOPODIUM SELAGO.

FIR CLUB-MOSS. UPRIGHT FIR-MOSS.

(Plate 8, fig. 6.)

Cha.— Stem erect, dichotomously branched, flat at top. Leaves
in eight rows. Thecse axillary.

Syn. — Plananthus selago, Beauv. — Selago vulgaris, JDillw. — Lycopodium
abietiforme. Gray. — Lycopodium selago of other botanists.

Fig. — E. B. 233. — Flo. Dan. 104. — Dill. Mus. t. 5G, f. 1.

Des. — Root tufted, fibrous. Stems 2 to 6 inches high, growing
quite erect, one issuing only from the root, and this becoming divided
dichotomously until they form a cluster of from six to ten ultimate
divisions ; the upper fruitful branches are, however, scarcely more
than forked. Leaves in eight rows, of a dark shining green color,
crowded, lanceolate, entire, acute, convex on the outer side, a little
spreading, and curved upwards. The fruit is not borne in a terminal
spike, as in the other species, but in the axils of the common leaves,
all down the upper part of the stem. Capsules large, kidney-shaped,
regularly two-valved, opening by a transverse fissure, and scattering
minute, yellow, globular, smooth spores.

This plant is likewise viviparous, producing not only capsules of seeds, but
occasionally also curious petioled buds, which consist of three or four differently-
sized ovate leaves ; they are irregularly placed in the axils of the common leaves,
that is, in the place of the capsules.

Sit. — On mountain sides, &c.

Hab. — It attains the summit of Ben-na-Muich-dhu, the loftiest of the
northern Grampians or Cairngorum range, and the second summit of Britain
(4320 feet). Common everywhere on the hilly tracts of Britain, especially the
Scottish Highlands. — Eng. : Helvellyn, Skiddaw, &c. ; on the loftiest rocks of
Dartmoor, and above Edale Chapel, Derbyshire, Mr. H. C. Watson. Common
about Settle, Mr. J. Tatham. Coleshill, Warwickshire (rare), Rev. W. Bree.
Wensley dale, Yorkshire, Mr. J. Ward. Once seen on Woolston Moss, near
Warrington, Mr. Wilson. Waldron Down, Sussex, and near Bristol, Miss Worsley.

PLJLl'ZJ. IX

I Q UISETX CEU

G-Fran-cts. del. el sc.

Equisetum .]

FERNS.

75

Shotover Hill, Oxon, Mr. Baxter. Mansfield Foi'est, near the Blidwortli Gate,
Mr. T. H. Cooper. — Wal. : Frequent on the Welch mountains, where a variety
is found with the leaves widely spreading, Mr. W. Wilson. — Ire. : Lough Bray
and mountains, in the south of Ireland (frequent), Irish Flora. Known in Kerry
as Virgin Mary’s Furze.

Geo. — Over Europe and North America. (Not in Pursh.)

EQUISETUM, Linn. HORSE-TAIL.

A, spike of fruit of Equisetum, palustre. B, portion of the stem and branches
of ditto. C, receptacle magnified. D, under side of a scale of ditto, showing
the scattering of the spores. E, spore in its young state. F, ditto more advanced ,
and unfolding its filiform appendages. G, ditto spread out and with abortive
granules attached to the filaments. H, abortive granules. I, transverse section
of the stem of Equisetum variegatum. J, ditto of Equisetum fluviatile. K,
longitudinal section of ditto. L, sheath of Equisetum Drummondii . M,
longitudinal section of stem of Equisetum limosum. N, particles of silex on
Equisetum Drummondii.

A widely distributed but not very extensive genus , which inhabits for the most
part temperate and cold countries. The species now living are all small plants,
but the fossil remains of the Equisetacece show that at some former period
gigantic specimens must have been frequent. Our plants prefer watery situa-
tions and strong soil. They may be divided into sections as follows : — -

* Fertile stems naked, succeeded by branched barren ones.

** Fertile stems branched from their first growth.

*** Fertile stems not branched at first, but finally becoming so.

**** Fertile stems always remaining simple, barren stems the same.

Equisetum fluviatile, Drummondii, and arvense, belong to the first section ; E .
sylvaticum to the second ; E. palustre and limosum to the third ; E. variegatum
and hyemale to the fourth.

1.— EQUISETUM FLUVIATILE.

GREAT HORSE-TAIL. WATER HORSE-TAIL.

(Plate 9, fig. 1 .)

C ha. —Barren stems erect, with thirty to forty branches in each

whorl. Fertile stems with loose sheaths, having numerous teeth.

Syn. — Equisetum fluviatile, Linn., Willd., Smith, Hook., Bolt., Huds.,
Lighlfi, With., Gray. — E. telmateia, Ehrh., Flo. Dan. — E. eburneum,
Roth, Schr. — E. majus, Ray, Ger.— E. maximum, Lam.

Yig.—E.B. 2022.— Bolt. 36, 37. — Ger. Her. 1113 .—Flo. Dan. 1469.

76

FERNS.

[ Equisetum .

Des.-— Barren stem 2 to 4 feet high, quite erect, white, succulent,
surrounded by whorls of from thirty to forty branches. Branches
rapidly growing upon the stem as soon as it issues from the ground,
giving it soon a broad- topped appearance. In its future growth this
blunt character is lost, the main stem becoming elongated, and the
branches are then long, slender, simple, jointed, ascending, with
channels along their surface, and at the angles of these other very
minute ones. Fertile stems 4 to 6 inches high, arising in March or
April, and decaying as the barren stems arise, reddish white,
extremely succulent, and wholly without branches at any time.
Their sheaths four to six in number, are nearly an inch long, and
generally so close together as to overlap each other, very deeply,
sharply, and numerously toothed. Catkin large and conical.

Withering says, “ fertile stems sometimes leafy.” He ought rather to have
said, barren stems sometimes fruitful ; as a catkin is often found in the middle or
latter part of summer terminating it, particularly if the weather has been dry for
some time previously ; in fact it may be produced at any time with such cultivated
plants as grow in pots, merely by removing the pots from the watery situation in
which they are usually placed into a drier spot of ground. Mr. W. Wilson
attributes this state of the plant to drought as here stated, and adds that he has
seen a specimen gathered near Bangor where this catkin was topped by a pro-
longation of the branched frond, (July, 1836.)

The name Fluviatile is not so applicable to this species as it would have been
to some others ; it is rarely found on the banks of rivers or ponds, nor do 1
remember ever having seen it growing in the water. It rather affects strong
loamy damp ground, clayey banks, and swampy bogs.

Hab.— Very abundant in some parts of England, as about London, in Hants,
Bucks, &c. ; but Mr. Watson thinks scarcely a common plant generally.

Geo. — Europe, Siberia, North America.

2.— EQUISETUM DRUMMGNDII.

BLUNT-TOPPED HORSE-TAIL.

(Plate 9, fig. 2.)

Ch a.— Barren stem blunt, erect, with about twelve branches.
Fertile stems with prickly- toothed sheaths.

Syn. — Equisetum Drummondii, Hook, in E. B . suppl. ; Mack., FI. Hib.

Fig. — E. B. suppl., t. 2777.

Des. — Barren stem exceedingly delicate, finely tapering upwards,
very rough on the angles, with white and shining particles of silex,
12 inches high, of a pale, lightish green, particularly the scales,
which widen upwards, six or eight in number, rather close together,
with long, black, terminal teeth.

Equisetum.

FERNS.

77

This plant differs from Equisetum arvense in its more glaucous green color
very much more delicate habit both of stem and branches, and blunter outline.
The fertile frond is much more rigid in texture, with harder, whiter, and more
numerously-toothed sheaths, and the points of the teeth are more diaphanous
than in the next species.

Hab.— First found by Mr. T. Drummond at Wolf Hill, the seat of W.
Thompson, Esq., near Belfast.

3.— EQUISETUM ARVENSE.

CORN HORSE-TAIL.

(Plate .9, fig. 3.)

Cha. — Barren stem taper-pointed, decumbent. Sheaths of the
fertile stem three or four, distant, loose,

Syn. — Equisetum arvense, Linn., Willd., Smith, Hook., Bolt., Ehrh., Huds.,
Lightf., With., Pursh., Mack., Gray. — Equisetum segetale, Ger.

Fig. — E. B. 2020. — Bolt. 34 .—Flo. Lon. 6 4. — Ger. Her. 1114. — Park. 1202.

Des. — Root branched, creeping. Main stem of the barren frond
procumbent, tapering to the end, sometimes very long, pointed,
rough, with whorls of branches all the way down, and forked at the
base ; that is to say, two or more fronds springing from the same part
of the root. Branches simple, varying much in number, fourteen or
sixteen, if all are present, but generally not more than eight or ten,
or even six, at the upper part of the frond. They are dark green,
rough, four channelled, with simple angles. Fertile fronds appearing
before the others, light brown, with four or five distant, deeply-
toothed sheaths. The teeth are sharp, ribbed, and rather dark co-
lored, particularly round their edges. As the fertile frond comes to
maturity, the sheaths decay from the point downwards ; thus their
black tooth is often tipped with white, and surrounded with a dia-
phanous membrane, particularly the upper sheaths, which are larger
and longer than those below.

The plant puts on very different characters in different circumstances ; some-
times it appears as a cylindrical pointed stem, without any branches — -this is its
early state, for it does not throw out branches immediately, as in Equisetum
fluviatile, therefore it never appears with a densely leafy, obtuse frond as that does.
On strong soil, and in shady situations, as when hid among growing corn, the
branches become exceedingly long, scattered in habit, and often geniculated, in
which state it is represented by Gerard as Equisetum segetale. The closeness and
number of the sheaths of the fertile stem are by no means a sure diagnostic of
any of our species ; the remarks respecting them, therefore, are more general than
specific information.

Sit. and Hab. — In corn fields, sandy banks, waste ground, & c. This species
is so common, and so difficult to eradicate, as to be a very troublesome weed.

Geo. — Found equally in Europe, Asia, and North America.

FERNS.

78

[ Equisetum.

4.— EQUISETUM SYLVATICUM.

WOOD HORSE-TAIL.

(Plate 9, fig. 4.)

Cha. — Stem erect. Branches compound, deflexed. Sheaths loose.

Syn. — Equisetum sylvaticum of all modern botanists .

Fig .—E. B . 1874.— Bolt. 32, 33 .—Flo. Dan. 1182.— SchJc. fil. 166.

Des.— -Stem erect, from 6 inches to 2 feet high, branched, bright
green. Branches compound, slender, smooth, drooping at the ends,
and whorled, the lower part of the stem without branches. Catkins
ovate, erect, stalked, and terminating the stem, borne early in the
season, and dying away long before the remaining part, as is the case
with all the following species ; it is very rarely, however, found in
fruit. Sheaths deeper colored than the stem.

Sit.— In woods and shady places, chiefly in the North,

Hab. — Rosshire and Moray, Rev. G. Gordon. Orkney, Rev. C. Clouston.
Frequent in the Highlands of Scotland, Mr » W. Wilson. Near Richmond,
Yorkshire, Mr. Ward. About Settle, Yorkshire, (scarce), Mr. J. Tatham.
Near Leeds, Mr. Denny. Forge Valley, near Scarborough, Yorkshire ; near
the ruins of Dale Abbey, and Southwood, near Calke Abbey, Derbyshire, Rev.
A. Bloxam. Egerton, near Bolton, Mr. W. Christy. Cumberland, Cheshire,
Lancashire, Mr. Watson. Benthal Edge, Salop, Mr. W. Leighton. Cromford
Moor, Derbyshire, Dr. Howitt. In Bagley Wood, between Oxford and Abingdon,
Mr. W. Baxter. Hampstead Heath and fields towards Hendon, Middlesex, Mr.
W. Pamplin. Sussex, Rev. G. E. Smith. Somerset, Mr , Southby. Moist
woods, Kelly’s Glen, Ballynascorny, Mr. O. Kelly. Abundant in the North of
Ireland, Mr. Mach ay .

Geo. — All Germany, Prussia, Holland, and Switzerland. From New York to
Virginia, &c;, and in North Asia.

5.— EQUISETUM LIMOSUM.

SMOOTH NAKED HORSE-TAIL.

(Plate 9, fig. 5.)

Cha. — Stem erect, naked or branched, smooth. Sheaths short,
appressed. Teeth numerous.

Syn. — Equisetum limosum, Linn., Willd., Smith , HooJc ., Bolt., Huds., Light/,
With., Mack., Gray . — Equisetum polymorphum, Schr. — Equisetum
heleocharis, Ehrh.

Fig. — E. B. 929. — Flo. Dan. 1184. — Bolt. 38.

Des. — Root much creeping, with scattered fibres. Stem erect,
quite smooth, striated, but not channelled, generally naked, but
sometimes putting out a few branches late in the season, which are
smooth, simple, and ascending. Catkin terminal, broad and short,
for the most part sessile in the upper sheath. Sheaths short, close
pressed to the stem, with very numerous short brown teeth.

Equisetum. ]

FERNS.

79

Often confounded with Equisetum palustre, of which by some of the older
botanists it was considered only a variety. It is, however, very distinct, and
may easily be distinguished by not bearing branches till late in the season, after
the catkin has decayed ; its branches also are less numerous, shorter, and either
scattered over the plant or in irregular whorls ; it has shorter and more
numerously toothed sheaths, which are pressed close to the stem. The whole
plant is smoother, and has shorter, thicker, and nearly sessile catkins.

Sit. — In low swampy ground, sides of streams, &c.

Hab. — Not so common as Equisetum palustre, but pretty generally distri-
buted. Moray and Rosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Tees, Mr. J. Hogg. Cheshire,
Lancashire, and Cumberland, Mr. H. C. Watson. Wensley Dale, Yorkshire,
Mr. J. Ward. Needwood Forest, Staffordshire, and Gamlingay Bogs, Cam-
bridgeshire. River Severn, near Shrewsbury, Hancott Pool, ditto, Mr. W.
Leighton. Near Wrexham, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Warwickshire, Rev. W. Bree.
Leicestershire, Rev. A. Bloxam. Derbyshire, Dr. Howitt. Norfolk, Miss Bell.
Somerset, Mr. Southby. Sussex and South Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. Near
Bristol, Miss Worst eg. Frequent in Ireland, Mr. Mackay.

Geo. — Holland, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe.

6.— EQUISETUM PALUSTRE.

MARSH HORSE-TAIL.

(Plate 9, fig. 6.)

Cha.— -Stem erect, naked or branched, rough. Sheaths long,
loose. Teeth few and long.

Syn. — Equisetum palustre of all English botanists. — Equisetum nodosum,
Schr. — Equisetum ramosum, Schl.

Fig. — E. B. 2021. — Bolt. 35. — Flo. Dan. 1183. — Lob. Icon. 795. — Ger. Her.
1114. — Schk. 168, 169.

Des. — Root creeping. Stem upright, branched throughout, 6 to
12 inches high, dark green, deeply channelled. Branches five-sided,
simple, ascending, six to ten in a whorl, a less number of and shorter
branches upwards. Catkins terminal, cylindrical, tapering, on a long
stalk, erect, found in May and June, sometimes before the branches,
at other times appearing long after the stem becomes branched.
Sheaths large, loose, with a few long tapering black teeth.

( alpinum .) smaller, upper branches abortive,
y (polystachion.) upper branches elongated and fruitful.

The second variety is always found in such situations as convince us that its
peculiar conformation arises from its being nipped by frost or cropped by cattle,
especially as when thus proliferous, the main stem is almost always injured at the
top ; a proof that here, as often is the case with Flowering Plants, the early
flowers being by any cause destroyed, the plant makes an effort to repair the
loss at a later season of the year by producing others.

FERNS.

80

[ Equisetum .

Sit and IIab.— -Very common in ponds, wet valleys, water- courses, &c.
/2 : — Breadalbane Mountain, Perthshire, at 3000 feet high, Mr. H. C. Watson,
y : No certain habitat of this can be given, because it is an accidental state of
the plant, and not a permanent variety. I have often found it in Richmond Park,
Surrey, and by the side of the Lea River at Stratford, Essex.

Geo.— Common throughout Europe, and in North America.

7, —EQUISETUM VARIEGATUM.

VARIEGATED ROUGH HORSE-TAIL.

(Plate 9, fig. 7.)

Ch a.— -Stems procumbent, rough. Sheaths black at top. Teeth
few, white, and persistent.

Syn. — Equisetum variegatum, Willd., Schk., Smith , Hook., Mack. — Equise-
tum arenarium, of authors. — Equisetum tenue, Hopp.

Fig. — E. B. 1987.

Des. — Root very woolly. Stem branched at the base only, rather
procumbent in habit, 4 to 6 inches long, of a green color, rough and
channelled. Catkins terminal, ovate, at first black and sessile, after-
wards long stalked, yellow and brown. Sheaths of the stem widening
at top, black only at their upper part, which is sharply, but not nu-
merously toothed, the upper sheath of the stem being much larger
and more spreading than the rest.

Its smaller size, recumbent habit, differently-colored sheaths, with their
prominent and permanent teeth, serve to distinguish this from E. hyemale.

Sit. — On the sandy sea-shore in the north of the kingdom.

Hab. — Eng. : Sand hills on the Cheshire coast, between Hoylake and the Rock
Fort, Mr. H. C. Watson. Wardrew, Northumberland, (abundant,) Mr. Winch.
Southport, Lane., Mr. W. Wilson. Near the Powder Magazine, in Wallasey,
opposite Liverpool, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Bootle Sands, near Liverpool, Mr.
Hylands. Near Winch Bridge, Teesdale, Mr. Bowman. — Sco. : Sands of Barry,
Forfarshire, Dr. Greville. Near Avoch, Rossliire, Rev. G. Gordon. — Ire. :
Portmarnock, opposite Baldoyle, Dr. Taylor. Mueruss, Killarney (a tall var.),
Mr. W. Wilson. Moist banks near a waterfall at the upper end of Colin Glen,
Belfast, Mr. Mackay. Ballyliarrigan Glen, near Dimgiven, Mr. D. Moore.

Geo. — Switzerland, Italy, France, Alsatia, & c.

8.— EQUISETUM HYEMALE.

ROUGH HORSE-TAIL. SHAVE GRASS. DUTCH RUSH.

(Plate 9, fig. 8.)

Cha. — Stem erect, rough, deeply striated. Sheaths short, ap-

pressed, black at each end. Teeth deciduous.

Syn. — Equisetum hyemale, Linn., Willd., Smith, Hook., Light f., Ehrh.,
Huds., With.. Pursh, Mack., Gray. (Not of Bory.) — Equisetum nudum,
Ray, Gerard.

Fig .—E. B. 915 .—Hook, in Flo. Lon. 161 .— Ger. Her . 1113 .— Bolt. 39.—
Schk. fil. 172.

Equisetum.\

FERNS.

81

Des. — Root black, branched. Stems erect, of a very dark green,
without whorls of branches, but forked and divided at the base, 2 to
3 feet high, regularly and numerously furrowed. Sheaths 2 to 3
inches distant from each other, very closely pressed to the stem, short,
with a black rim at the top and bottom of each. Teeth of the scales
black and deciduous.

It is surprising that this plant, so valuable in a general as well as a commercial
point of view, is not cultivated along our sandy coasts, where it would grow
luxuriantly and rapidly, forming a strong embankment, and yielding a consider-
able profit. The Dutch are well acquainted with the value of its long and
matted roots in restraining the wasting effects of the ocean, which would soon
undermine their dykes were it not for the Equisetum hyemale which is planted
upon them. At the proper season it is cut down and exported to other countries,
where its naked and flinty stems are used for polishing domestic utensils,
furniture, marble, &c. It is here sold as Dutch rush, (not Dutch rushes, which
are Scirpus glaucus, or sometimes Scirpus palustris ; the former being used for
the bottoms of chairs, the latter by coopers to stop leakages.)

So abundant is the silex upon both the inner and outer cuticle of the stem,
that it is said the whole of its vegetable matter may be removed without de-
stroying the shape of the plant. Every part of it is a very beautiful object
under the microscope.

Sit. — In woods and boggy places ; rather rare, particularly in the South.

Ha.b.— Eng. : Hawthorn Dean, Durham, Mr. T. H. Cooper . Scotswood
Dean, near Newcastle, Mr. Bowman. Near Over, Cheshire, Mr. W. Wilson.
Common near Halifax, Mr. R. Leyland. In a dell at Bitterley, below the Clee
Hills, Salop. Forge valley, near Scarboro’, Yorkshire. In a small stream at the
bottom of Grace Dieu Wood, Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire, Rev. A. Bloxam.
South Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. — Wal. : Near Wrexham, Mr. J. E. Bowman.
— Sco. : Edinburgh, in the stream just below Roslyn Castle, Mr. H. C. Watson.
Moray and Rosshire, Rev. G. Gordon. Wood at Corra Linn, Lanarks, Mr. C.
C. Babington. — Ire. : Tyrone, Mr. Shuttleworth. Wood at Leislip Castle,
near Dublin. Powerscourt, and around Dublin, Mr. Mac/cag.

Geo. — All Germany, Holland, and Switzerland. From Canada to Virginia,
and in Asia.

M

APPENDIX.

CULTIVATION OF FERNS GENERALLY.

This tribe of plants was, but a few years ago, scarcely known in cultivation.
Lately, however, it has been considerably sought after ; and as little has
hitherto been written on the culture of Ferns, or the selection of species, the
following general observations will, I trust, be acceptable. It is right to observe,
that for a great part of the list, and some of the remarks which follow, I am in-
debted to Mr. Bevis, of the Botanic Garden, Regent’s Park, a well-known and
ardent cultivator of the Ferns.

Solving. — For sowing Fern seed the spring of the year is to be preferred.
The pots in which it is to be sown should be of a small size, (say 48s.,) both for
the sake of convenience, and because they hold less moisture, and allow a better
circulation. Fill the pots half full of fine broken pot-shreads ; that is, garden
pots broken into small pieces. Over these lay a portion of Sphagnum, or other
porous moss; and then fill the pot to within half an inch of the top, with soil
prepared in the following manner : — Take three parts of loose or unadhesive peat
earth, (that is to be chosen which lies about an inch beneath the surface, where it
is not too much decayed ;) put it into a pan of boiling water to kill any vege-
table matter that may be alive, or small worms, which become very troublesome
as the Fern seeds vegetate ; then let it get dry enough to rub through the hand,
but not very finely ; to this powdered peat add one-third of white sand, mixing
both articles well together. When the pots are filled to within half an inch of the
top, give them a little water, on which sow the seeds, taking care not to water
them afterwards over the top. The seeds should be sown thinly — if thickly sown,
or too much water be given, they are apt to fog , or kill each other, before they are
large enough for potting or pricking off. After sowing lay a piece of common
glass over the top of the pot, and set it in a saucer, taking care not to let the
saucer be without water, and place it in a light but shaded place. When the
plants have shown the first leaf, a little air may be admitted — after which, should
they be too thick, they may be thinned by taking them up in small patches with
the point of a knife, and transplanting them into another pot, prepared as the
former, but made fine by sifting the soil ; when large enough they may be divided
a second time. Many persons mix a great portion of broken brick in the seed
pot, upon which the seeds vegetate well, but the difficulty of transplanting there-
from is very great. It is of course necessary to know whether the species belong
to the green-house or stove, that the vegetating seed may be placed in a congenial
climate, observing only that a dry air and direct sunshine is to be, as much as
possible, avoided.

After ■‘Cultivation. — Ferns of different habit require a different treatment.
This is in some degree accordant with their natural soil and places of growth, yet
not wholly so. Numerous of the British Ferns, although they naturally live in
bleak and exposed situations, yet when under culture require some degree of
protection. So also notwithstanding some of them seem naturally to prefer the

APPENDIX.

83

interstices of brick walls, such for example, as Grammitis ceterach, they will
not flourish in brick rubbish. To treat this little understood part of the subject
intelligibly, and to show the extent to which the foregoing observation applies, it
is advisable to divide the Ferns into various distinct sections, as follows

STOVE AND GREEN-HOUSE FERNS.

Fens with rhizomas. — These in their native habitats are, in many instances,
epiphytes, deriving their nourishment chiefly from the air, or from other scanty
sources. If potted they require much less water than others, the soil should be
porous, and the pots should be filled half full of turfy peat. Most of this division
thrive very well suspended on blocks of wood, in a warm moist atmosphere, but
should be watered very sparingly in the winter season. The small, creeping,
entire-leafed species thrive as epiphytes, as they run a long way in the season.
These are readily increased by cuttings. If potted they seldom show any
fructification, owing to their stunted habits.

Ferns with crowns. — Those Ferns with crowns from which the fronds
issue, require a soil made finer, with a greater depth. Care must be taken in not
covering their crowns, which is certain death to the greater number of the species ;
they likewise require more frequent watering as they are sooner affected by
drought. Many of this section produce bulbs upon their leaves, from which they
readily increase. Others root from the tip of their fronds, without forming bulbs ;
such is the case with many of the Aspleniums. This section requires care in
dividing, as by this mode they seldom make good plants ; it is preferable to increase
them from seed, as they grow more freely, and make finer plants. The Gymno-
grammas should be potted in loam, as they are very apt to damp if potted in peat
soil ; in fact, most Ferns which have various -colored leaves prefer a loamy soil.
No kind of manure should be at any time given to Ferns ; even weak lime water
should be avoided, as great havoc is sometimes made with it.

Ferns with thick fleshy roots. — Of these there are but a few species. All
those of Marattia have a curious scaly cormus, resembling that of the genus
Zamia, from which are pi’oduced strong thick fleshy roots. They prefer loam
and peat, and are easily injured by shifting, as the soil is very apt to drop from
them when they are turned out of the pot. If kept too hot they are apt to drop
their leaves ; they do best in a temperature not exceeding 60°. Danseas resemble
the last genus, and require the same treatment. Care must be taken to give them
free draining.

Arborescent Ferns. — In general these do not thrive well ; they require a very
moist atmosphere. Their stems should always be bound with Sphagnum, or they
soon look very sickly, as they are covered all up their stem with spongeoles, by
which they, in a great degree, receive their nourishment. They should be well
drained, and freely syringed on their stems to keep the moss moist.

Numerous of the Ferns under stove culture are infested with a species of
thrips ; others have a rusty appearance, often laid to that insect, but which
appears to arise from being kept too warm — the green-house species, mixed with
those pi’operly belonging to the stove, being always first attacked. Other insects
seldom attack them, with the exception of brown scale and slugs, which are soon
destroyed. The best remedy for the thrips is the vapor arising from sulphur
sprinkled over the flues or pipes.

84

APPENDIX.

HARDY FERNS.

Hardy Ferns should always have a prepared soil on a sloping north bank,
where they are seen to the greatest advantage. Some of the strong Aspidiums
will grow in any common soil, where the small species would soon perish. They
prefer a shady place, but do not like the drip of trees, nor stagnant water about
them. The border or soil should be made of one-fourth coarse grit or river sand,
with three parts peat or bog earth, chopped well in pieces, but not sifted — this
should be a foot deep. If a very damp place, the border should have a layer of
broken brick below to drain it, if intended for the more choice species ; for
although Osmundas, Aspidium thelipteris, and Blechnum boreale, will grow in
the water, they thrive better a small distance off, and you gain the advantage of
growing all the species in the same border. Some of the smaller species should
be raised on mounds above the border to keep them drier ; the best way is to
place four or five stones edgeways, thereby forming a hollow in the centre, putting
a little drainage in the bottom. Small species prefer shallow soil ; they are like-
wise benefited by placing a bell glass over them, to retain the humidity of the
atmosphere. Many of them it is difficult to find situations suitable for, without
covering both in summer and winter ; such for instance as Adiantum capillus-Ve-
neris ; Asplenium alternifolium, viride, trichomanes, septentrionale, and marinum ;
Hymenophyllum Wilsoni and Tunbridgen.se ; Trichomanes brevisetum; Ceterach,
and many small foreign species ; likewise the Lycopodiums, the hardy species
of which may all be grown. Hymenophyllum s and Trichomanes require but little
soil ; they thrive best fastened on a piece of porous stone, over which has been
shaken a little sand. They should always be covered with a glass, and kept very
moist and shaded, being inhabitants of wet dripping rocks. Many of the other
small species grow in drier situations, even on sunny walls, but they are always
finer in the shade ; from such situations they are difficult to remove, owing to the
roots penetrating the crevices of the wall or rock, and take a long time to get
thoroughly established in a new situation. The Botrychiums are also removed
with difficulty ; they require a good drainage.

Fern Houses. — The plan adopted by Mr. Ward, (of Wellclose Square,
London,) is deserving of particular attention from many causes, independent
of the cultivation of the Ferns. The principle established by this excellent and
well-known botanist is, that a constant renewal of air is not necessary for the
well-being of plants. Thus if a plant be inclosed in a glass case, watered, and
then the case closed up air-tight, the moisture which evaporates having no means
of flying off will be condensed on the sides of the case, and trickling down will
moisten the plants a second time, only to be evaporated and condensed again and
again each succeeding day. Also, the air which is necessarily included in the cases
does not become unfit for the use of the plant. That these are established facts
may be easily proved by planting a Fern or a Moss in a phial, well corking and
sealing the phial, and suffering it to remain in this state for a length of time.
This may appear curious rather than useful, and on so small a scale as that of a
phial it really is so ; but the same principle holds good to any convenient extent,
and a glass jar of many gallons, or a box with a glass top of any moderate size,
may be thus stored with numerous plants, and made to form a highly interesting
parlor ornament, and that without the plants requiring the least care or atten-

APPENDIX.

85

tion, except to remove decayed parts, or train up a too-exuberant growth. Even
were the discovery capable of no further extent, it would be most invaluable in the
transport of plants from one country to another, preserving them from the vicissi-
tude of season, from the effect of salt spray, (so detrimental to most plants,) and
from the inattention of their temporary guardians. Indeed Mr. Ward’s air-tight
cases are now universally employed for the transit of living plants. We would
advert, moreover, to the injurious effect of a contaminated atmosphere upon plants,
and remind our city friends of their repeated disappointments in window culture,
or of their abortive attempts to ruralize their back court-yard. Mr. Ward’s plan
ensures them success ; it is only necessary to cover it with glass — to have but one
door of ingress, and that seldom to be used — and to stock the covered space with
any plants that can endure a shady situation, (among which the Ferns stand pre-
eminent,) and they have at once a beautiful green-house. It may, perhaps, be
but a glass closet attached to the outside of an ordinary window, or it may extend
the width of the house — in either case success is certain. Those who are desirous
of learning more upon the subject may consult a little work by Mr. Ward, entitled,
u Growing of Plants in Closed Cases ; ” and which is just published by Mr.
Voorst, Paternoster Row.

SELECT LIST OF FERNS.

STOVE FERNS.

ACROSTICHUM

erinitum

flagellifolium

lingua

nieotianifolium

simplex

seolopendrium

stemaria

viliosum

latifolium

dimorphum

aureum

longifolium

ANTROPHIUM

lanceolatum

ADIANTUM

concinnum

cordatum

cristatum

cuneatum

falcatum

fragile

macrophyllum

cbliquum

obtusatum

pubescens

radiatum

serrulatum

tenerum

trapeziforme

varium

ALSOPHILA

Bisphamii

ASPLENIUM

alatum

auriculatum

biauritum

bisectum

brasiliense

contiguum

cuneatum

cultrifolium

compressum

cieutarium

dentatum

fragrans

laciniatum

monanthum

pulchrum

pumilum

pubescens

prsemorsum

radicans

rhizophorum

salicifolium

Sheppardii

striatum

serratum

zamisefolium

ALLANTODIA

Scandiina

ANEIMIA

phyllitides

laciniata

collina

radicans

ASPIDIUM

appendiculatum

albo-punctatum

aristatum

coriaceum

erinitum

exaltatum

falcatum

fraxini folium

hispidum

hypocrepis

lucens

macrurum

macrophyllum

mollis

mucronatum
parasiticum
palens
pectinalum
pennigerum
pubescens
pungens
parasiticum
rhyzophyilum
semicorclatum
serra
Sprengelii
tuberosum
trifoliatum
unitum
BLECHNUM
angusti folium
brasiliense
corcovadense
gracile
liastatum
intergerrimum
longifolium
lanceolum
occidentale
pectinatum
polypodifolium
CERATOPTERIS
thalictroides
CHEILANTHES
dicksonoides
lendigera
micropbylla
tenuifolia
farinosa
CyENOPTERIS
rhyzophylla
trilobata
fceniculacea
DIDYMOCIIL^ENA

sinuosa
DAN/E A
alat.a

DIPLAZIUM
arboreum
decussatum
grandifolium
plantagineum
DICKSON I A
auricoma
arborea
DAVALLIA
corcovadense
GYMNOGRAMMA
chrysophylla
calomelanos
ochracea
peruviana
polypodioides
rufa

sulphurea

trifoliata

tartarica

asplenioides

HEMIONITIS

palmata

LYCODIUM

circinatum

microphyllum

volubile

LOMARIA

faleata

longifolia

nuda

Plurnieri

LYCOPODIUM

apothecium

circinale

ciliare

stoloniferum

Willdenowi

86

LIST OF FERNS

eordifolium
MEN 1SCIUM
sorbi folium
palustre
MARATTIA
lssvis

NOTHQCHLjENA

nivea

rufa

sinuosa

trichomanoides
N E PH O BOLUS
nervata
pertusa
sinensis

OPHIOGLOSSUM
petiolatum
reticulatum
PSILOTUM
triquetrum
POLYBOTRYA
cervina
cylindrica
PLEOPELTIS
macrocarpa
iati folia
angusta
PTKRIS
arguta
biaurita
oruciata
flexuosa
discolor
denticulata
gigantea
geraniifolia
grandifolia
hastata

intrimarginalis

leptophyullus

brasiliensis

nemoralis

palmata

pedata

Plumieri

laeta

sagitti folia
POLYPODIUM
aureum
angustifolium
ariolatum
Barometz
curvatum
crenatum
scandens
dissimile
diversifolium
decumanum
deflexum
effusum
hastatum
difforme
irioides
incanum
lajvigatum
lycopodioides
lygodioides
loraceum
myrtifolium
otides
olivaceum
fraxinifolium
piloselloides
exiguuin
pectinatum
phymatodes
glaucum
quercifolium
repens

repandum

rhyzophyllum

reptans

ramosum

polyantbos

serpens

Schkuhrii

trichomanoides

tetragonum

phylitides

sphorodocarpon

cicutarium

pendulum

cnoodes

latipes

GREEN-HOUSE

FERNS.

ACROSTICHUM

alcicorne

ADIANTUM

assimile

capillus-veneris
formosum
hispidulum
reniforme
morritzianum
aethiopicum
venosum
ALSOPHILA
australis
ASPLENIUM
acutum
diversifolium
flabellifolium
lucidum
nidus
palmatum
bipartitum
Petrarch ae
ALLANTODIA
australis
uinbrosa
strigosa
axillaris
tenera
ASPiDIUM
eeinulum
elongatum
auriculatum
loetevirens
BALANT1UM
culcium
BLECHNUM
australe
serrulatum
striatum
cartilaginum
CIBOIIUM
Bellardieri
CIllELANTHES
fragrans
odora
caudata
DOODIA
aspera
media
maxima
caudata
kunthiana
DAVALLEA
canariensis
gibberosa
pyxydata
dubia
LOMARIA

nuda

lanceolata

procera

minor

Pattersonii

LINDSHSA

media

trichomanoides

NOTHOCHLyENA

lanuginosa

marantaea

distans

pumila

tenera

hirsuta

profusa

NEPHOBOLUS

rupestris

confluens

PHYSEMATIUM

molle

PTERIS

cretica

crenata

esculenta

falcata

hastata

longifolia

serrulata

vespertilionis

umbrosa

tremula

POLYPODIUM

dripanum

Bellardieri

proli'ferum

tenellum

TODIA

africana

australis

TRICHOMANES
bre vise turn
WOODWARDIA
radicaus

IIYMENOPHYLLUM
W ilsoni
Tunbridgense

HARDY FERNS.

ALLOSURUS
crispus
ADIANTUM
pedatum
ASPLENIUM
adiantuin nigrum
ebenum
filix-fsemina
fontanum
alternifolium
lan ceola turn
Michauxii
marinum
ruta-muraria
septenlrionale
trichomanes
viride
athyrium
ASPIDIUM
aculeatum
acrostichoides
atomarium
bulbiferum
cristatum
dilitatum
dumetorum ?
fuscatum

fragrans
filix-mas
Goldianum
intermedium
irriguum ?
lobatum
lancastriense
lonchitis
montanum
marginale
novseboracense
obtusnm
oreopteris
rigidum
rhyzophyllum
spinulosum
thelypteris
BLECHNUM
boreale

BOTRYCHIUM

dissectum

fumarioides

lunaria

virginicum

CHEILANTHES

vestita

CYSTOPTEUIS

dentata

fragilis

regia

DICKSONIA

pilosiuscula

GRAMMIT1S

ceterach

LYCOPODIUM

alpinum

annotinum

complanatum

clavatum

denticulatum

dendroideum

helveticum

inundatum

selago

selaginoides

OPHIOGLOSSUM

vulgatum

OSMUNDA

cinnamomea

interrupta

regalis

spectabile

ONOCLEA

sensibilis

obtusiloba

PTERIS

aquilina

atropurpurea

caudata

POLYPODIUM
alpestre
calcareum
dryopteris
liexagonopterum
phegopteris
virginicum ?
vulgare

SCOLOPENDRIUM

officinarum

STRUTHIOPTERIS

germaniea

Pennsylvania

WOODSIA

Perriniana

Ilvensis

hyperborea

rufula

WOODWARDIA

blechnioides

virginica

INDEX

OF ORDERS, GENERA, AND SPECIES.

Page

Acrostic hum, alpinum 27

ilvense .26

nemorale 53

septentrionale .... 44

spicant 53

thelypteris 35

ADIANTUM 59

capillus 59

capillus -veneris . . . . 59
coriandrifolium . . . . 59

fontanum 59

Allosorus crispus . . . . 58

ANNULATE 2

ASPIDIUM 31

aculeatum 34

alpinum 30

angulare 35

asperum 32

cristatum 39

dentatum . 28

dilatatum 42

dumetorum 43

erosum 39

filix-fcsmina 50

filix-mas 38

fontanum 48

fragile 29

fragrans 36

goldianum 39

irriguum 50

linearis 35

lobaium 33, 34

lonchitidoides 33

lonchitis ,32

odoriferum 36

oreopteris 36

recurvum 38, 43

rhceticum 30

rigidum 40

spinulosum 41

spinulosum .... 40, 42

thelypteris 35

ASPLENIUM 43

adiantum nigrum . . 49

alternifolium .44

aquilina 55

Breynii 44

ceterach 20

elongatum 52

Page

filix-foemina 50

fontanum 48

germanicum 44

Halleri .......... 48

irriguum 50

lanceolatum 49

lucidum 49

marinum ........ 46

melanocaulon 47

murale 45

obtusatum 46

ruta-muraria ...... 45

saxatile 47

scolopendrium .... 52

septentrionale 44

spicant 53

trichomanes . . . . . . 46
trichomanoides . . . . 47

viride 47

Athyrium alpinum . . 30

dentatum « 28

filix-foemina .50

fontanum . . 48

regium .......... 30

thelypteris 35

Bernhardia spinosa ..72

BLECHNUM 53

boreale r 53

spicant 53

BOTRYCHIUM . . . . 64

lunaria I 65

Capillus veneris verus 59
Ceterach alpinum . . . . 27
ojficinarum. ....... 20

CISTQPTERIS .... 28

alpina 30

dentata 28

fragilis 29

regia 30

CRYPTOGRAMMA 57

crispa 58

Cyclopteris fragilis . . 29
Cyathea alpina ...... 30

angustata 30

dentata 28

fragilis 29

incisa 30

Cystea dentata ...... 28

fragilis .......... 29

Page

regia 30

EQUISETALES 2

EQUISETACEvE 2, 16

EQUISETUM 75

arenarium 80

arvense .......... 7 7

Drummondii 76

eburneum 75

fluviatile 75

heleocharis 78

hyemale 80

limosum 78

majus 75

maximum ........ 7 5

nodosum. ......... 79

nudum 80

palustre 79

polymorphum 78

ramosum ........ 7 9

segetale 77

sylvaticum .78

telmateia ........ 75

tenue 80

variegatum 80

EXANNULATJE .. 2
Filix-foemina . . . . . . . . 55
Filix lonchitidi afiinis 33

GENERA 19

GRAMMITIS ...... 20

ceterach 20

Gymnopteris ceterach 20
HYMENOPH YLLA CEM 2
HYMENOPHYLLUM . , 60

alatum 62

Tunbridgense 60

Tunbridgense /3. . . . 62

Wilsoni 61

1SOETACEJE 2

ISOETES.. 68

lacustris .......... 68

setacea 69

cristata 39

Lastrcea dilatata 42

filix-mas 38

oreopteris 36

rigida 40

thelypteris 35

Lepidotis alpina .... 73
annotina. . . . ......71

88

INDEX.

Page

clavata . k 70

Lorn aria spicant . . . . 53
Lonchitis asp era . . . . 53

Lunaria minor 65

LYCO POD ALES' .. 2
LYCOPOD1ACEAE2, 15
LYCOPODIUM ....69

abietiforme 74

alpinum 73

annotinum 71

clavatum 70

inundatum 71

officinale 70

sabinosfolium .... . . 73

selaginoides 72

selago 74

MARSTLEA CEAE 2, 13
Muscns clavatus .... 70
Nephrod. dryopteris . . 25

Onoclea spicant 53

crisp a 58

OP mo GLOSSA CEAE 2
OPHIOGLOSSUM. . 66

vulgatum 66

ovatum 86

ORDERS 2

OSM UN DA CEAE 2, 10

OSMUNDA 63

borealis 53

crisp a 58

lunaria 65

lunata 65

regalis 63

rupestris 58

spicant 53

Phyllitis heterophylla 44

land folia 49

rotundifolia 47

ruta-muraria 45

Page

PILULARIA 67

globulifera 67

Plananthus inundatus 72

selago 74

POLYPODIACEAE2, 3
POLYPODIUM .... 21
aculeatum .... 33, 34

alpinum 30

arvonicum 26

calcareura 24

callipteris ........ 39

cambricum 22

cristatum ..41, 42, 39

dentatum 28

dentatum (MoenchJ 41

dilatatum 42

dryopteris 24

dryopteris 25

flix-fcemina 50

flix-mas ........ 38

fontanum „ . 48

fragile 29

hyperboreum 27

license 26

latebrosum 23

lobatum 33

lonchitis 32

oreopteris 36

ovato-crenatum .... 50

pulchellum 24

phegopteris 23

regium 30

rhceticum 30

rigidum . . 40

robertianum 25

spinosum ........ 4 1

spinulosum 41

thelypteris .... 35, 36
trifidum 30

Page

virginiatmm . . . . . . 21

vulgare 21

Polystichum aculeat. . . 34

callipteris 38

cristatum 39

dryopteris 24

filix-mas 38

lonchitis 32

montanum 36

multiflorum . 42

phegopteris. 23

rigidum 40

strigosum ........ 40

thelypteris 56

PTERIS 54

aquilina 55

caudata 55

crisp a 58

SCOLOPENDRIUM 51
alternifolium ...... 44

ceterach 20

officinarum 52

phyllitis 52

rut a muraria 45

septentrionale 44

vulgare 52

Selaginella spinosa . . 72

Selago vulgaris 74

Stegania onocleoides . . 58
Trichomanes 47

TRICHOMANES . ] 62

alatum (>2

brevisetum 62

pulchellum 60

pyxidiferum 62

Tunbridgense 60

WOODSIA 26

hyperborea 27

Ilvensis 26

K. REYNOLDS, PRINTER, OLD 15ROAD STREET, LONDON.

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