Skip to main content

Full text of "Where to find ferns : with a special chapter on The ferns round London"

See other formats


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/b21498842 


WI  TH  A  SPECIAL  CHAPTER  ON 


THE  FERNS  ROUND  LONDON. 


BY 

FRANCIS  GEORGE  HEATH, 

EDITOR   OF  THE  NEW    EDITION   OF  GILPIN's    "  FOREST  SCENERY"; 

Author  q/  "  The  Fern  Port/olio,"  "  Autumnal  Lea7'es,"  "  Tree  Gossip," 
"  The  Fern  IVorlei,"  "My  Garden  Wild"  "Our  Woodland  Trees," 
^'Sylvan  Spring,"  "  The  Fern  Paradise,"  "  Burnhati:  Beeches," 
"  Trees  and  Ferns,"  "  Peasant  Life,"  "  The  Englisli  Peasantry" 
Gt'c.  &'c. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


PUBLISHED  UNDER  THE  DIRECTION  OF 
THE  COMMITTEE  OF  GENERAL  LITERATURE  AND  EDUCATION 
APPOINTED  BY  THE  SOCIETY  FOR  PROMOTING 
CHRISTIAN  KNOWLEDGE. 


LONDON : 

SOCIETY  FOR  PROMOTING  CHRISTIAN  KNOWLEDGE. 

NOKTMUMBEKLAND  AVENUE,  CHARING  CROSS,  VV.  C.  ; 
43,  QUEEN  VICTORIA  STREET,   E.  C.  ; 

26,  ST.  George's  place,  hyde  park  corner,  s.w. 
BRIGH  I'ON  :  135,  north  street. 
New  York:  E.  &  J.  H.  YOUNG  &  CO. 
1885. 

ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED. 


^WELLCCWE  INSTITUTE 
LIBRARY 

Coll. 

weiMOmec 

Call 
No. 

( 

m 

CONTENTS. 

 Kx  

The  Illustrations           ...       ...         .,        ...  page 

V 

I. 

Explanatory 

I 

11. 

Definitions  of  Terms 

4 

TTT 

111. 

1<  em  Habitats 

19 

IV. 

On  the  Cultivation  of  Ferns 

45 

V. 

The  Bracken  (/Vm'j  ai7?«7/;/a) 

50 

VI. 

'Yh&Yl:i.xi'i\.o-a^&  [Scolopendnum  viilgare) 

52 

VII. 

TXx&'LzAy  Yzxn  {Athyrittm  filix-fcemina) 

56 

VIII. 

The  Hard  Fern  {Blcchnum  spicant) 

58 

IX. 

The  Royal  Fern  ( Osrmmda  regalis) 

62 

X. 

The  True  Maidenhair  {Adiantwn  capillus-veneris)  ... 

66 

XI. 

The  Annual  Maidenhair  {Gymnogramnia  leptopliylla) 

70 

XII. 

The  Mountain  Parsley  Fern  [Allosoncs  crisptts) 

72 

XIII. 

The  Bristle  Fern  (Trichomattcs  radicans) 

76 

XIV. 

The  Moonwort  [Botrychiiim  lunaria)  ... 

79 

XV. 

The  Adders-tongue  {Opliioglos.^ii}n  vulgahini) 

80 

XVI. 

The  Little  Adders-tongue  (Ophioglossuin  lusiiaiiicuin) 

81 

XVII. 

The  Common  Polypody  (Polypodium  vidgarc) 

82 

XVIII. 

The  Mountain  Polypody  {Polypodium  plicgoptcris)  ... 

84 

XIX. 

The   Three-branched   Polypody  {Polypodium  dryo- 

p/eris)  ... 

86 

XX. 

The  Limestone  Polypody  {Polypodium  calcarcum) 

S7 

XXT. 

The  Alpine  Polypody  {Polypodium  alpcs/rc)  ... 

89 

XXII. 

The  Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern  {Polysiichum  aculca/um) 

90 

VVTTT 

the  .Tott  rrickly  .Shield  l<ern  {Polystichum  angularc) 

92 

XXIV. 

The  Holly  Fern  {Polystichum  lonckilis) 

93 

XXV. 

The  Brittle  Bladder  P'ern  {Cystopteris  fragilis) 

95 

XXVI. 

The  Alpine  Bladder  Fern  {Cystopteris  7-cgia)  ... 

97 

B  2 

iv 


CONTENTS. 


XXVII.  The  Mountain  Bladder  Fern  {Cyslopteris  ?iion- 

tana)   page  98 

XXVIII.  The  Oblong  Woodsia  (  ff^^Jrt'j?^  z7we««j)   99 

XXIX.  The  Alpine  Woodsia  (  fFWj/a  n^zVw)   100 

XXX.  The  Male  Fern  (Lastrea  Jilix-mas)   102 

XXXI.  The  Broad  Buckler  Fern  {Lasirea  dilatata)        ...  103 

XXXII.  The  Hay-scented  Buckler  Fern  {Lastrea  reciwa)  105 
XXXIII.  The  Rigid  Buckler  Fern  {Lastrea  rigida)  ..  ...  107 
X.XXIV.  The  Crested  Buckler  Fern  (Zaj/r^a  fw/a/'a)      ...  108 

XXXV.  The  Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern  {Lastrea  spiim- 

losa)...        ...        ...        ...        ...        ...        ...  no 

XXXVI.  The  Mountain  Buckler  Fern  (Zr7J-/;ra  .. .  ill 
XXXVII.  The  Marsh  Buckler  Fern  (Zflj/wa  Mf/j'/Z^-w)    ...  113 

XXXVIII.  The  Forked  Spleenwort  {Asp/emum  septentriona/e)  1 14 
XXXIX .  The  Alternate  Spleenwort  {Asplenhmt  gennaiiiaivi)  116 
XL.  The   Rue-leaved   Spleenwort    {A^plenitmi  7-iita- 

niurarid)     ...        ...        ...        ...        ...  ...117 

XLI.  The  Black  Maidenhair  Spleenwort  {Aspleiiiiim 

adiantitm-nigrutn  ...       ...       ...        ...        ...  119 

XLII.  The  Lanceolate  Spleenwort  {Asplejziurn  laiiceo- 

latiim)        ...        ...       ...        ...        ...  ...121 

XLIII.  The  Rock  Spleenwort  {Asplcniutn  fontanuiii)    ...  123 
XLIV.  The  Green  Spleenwort  (^j/Z^w^K/;/ Tz/r/'i/^)        ...  124 
XLV.  The  Common  Maidenhair  Spleenwort  {Asplcniii»i 

trichoniaties)  ...        ...        ...       ...        ...  126 

XLVI.  The  Sea  Spleenwort  {Asplcniiim  vmrinum)       ...  128 
XLVII.  The  Scaly  Spleenwort  {Asplenimii  ceterM/i)       ...  130 
XLVIII.  The  Tunbridge   Filmy    Fern  {Hymenophylluin 

timbridgettse)         ...       ...        ...       ...        ...  132 

XLIX.  The   One-sided   Filmy   Fern  {Ilymenophylluni 

wiilaterale) . . .        ...       ...       ...        ...       ...  134 

L.  Ferns  round  London    ...        ...       ...  137 

Inde.v   149 


THE  ILLUSTRATIONS, 


Illustrations  of  all  the  species  of  British  Ferns  are 
included  in  this  volume ;  and  British  Ferns,  it  must 
be  remembered,  include  species  which  comprise  a  not 
inconsiderable  portion  of  those  to  be  found  in  many 
other  parts  of  the  world  than  the  British  Islands.  The 
illustrations  of  these  Ferns  have  been  reduced  from  the 
outlines  which  form  the  basis  of  the  coloured  figures 
of  "  The  Fern  Portfolio,"  to  which  work  this  little 
pocket-book  is  intended  to  be  a  companion. 

The  high  praise  which  the  Press  has  bestowed  upon 
both  the  design  and  execution  of  the  facsimile  illustra- 
tions of  "The  Fern  Portfolio"  may  be  allowed,  the 
Author  trusts,  to  bespeak  commendation  for  the  very 
carefully  made  reductions  from  those  illustrations — 
photographically  accurate  and  true  in  all  but  colour — 
included  in  "Where  to  Find  Ferns." 

The  figures  in  this  volume  are  a  little  less  than 
one-third  natural  size. 

To  prove  the  accuracy  of  the  photographic  reductions 
of  the  figures,  readers  are  invited  to  compare  them, 
by  the  aid  of  a  pocket  magnifying-glass,  with  those  of 
"  The  Fern  Portfolio."  The  same  process  will  enable 
the  reader  to  discover  any  points  of  detail  that, 
appearing  in  the  accompanying  descriptions  in  the  text, 


iv 


THE  ILLUSTRATIONS, 


may  not  readily  be  discerned  by  the  unaided  eye  in  the 
figures. 

Illustrations  are  also  given  in  the  chapter  entitled 
"  Definitions  of  Terms,"  and  will,  it  is  believed,  add 
force  and  clearness  to  the  explanations  of  that  chapter. 

But  a  feature  of  this  little  volume,  which  the  Author 
believes  is  quite  new  to  Fern  literature,  is  the  illustration 
of  the  chapter  on  "  Fern  Habitats."  That  so  especial 
a  feature  of  "  Where  to  Find  Ferns  "  will  be  widely 
appreciated  by  lovers  of  the  beautiful  plants  which 
form  its  subject,  the  Author  confidently  believes. 

It  is  unusual  for  the  author  of  a  book  to  say  anything 
about  its  price ;  but  in  this  instance  the  price  of  the 
volume  has  been  a  careful  subject  of  study,  with  the 
object  of  widely  increasing  the  love  for  a  recreation 
whose  pursuit  must  exercise  a  wholesome  and  healthy 
influence  upon  the  public  mind — an  influence  which, 
at  once  puiifying  and  elevating,  is  calculated  to  raise 
the  thoughts  to  better  things,  leading  the  mind  from  a 
contemplation  of  the  beauty  of  Nature  to  the  great 
Giver  of  all  good  things. 

The  price,  therefore,  of  the  volume,  bound  in  cloth, 
is  fixed  at  Eighteenpence  ;  and  as  in  this  respect  it 
stands  alone  amongst  books  of  its  kind,  only  a  very  large 
sale  can  make  its  issue  remunerative. 


London,  A/ay,  18S5. 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


I. — Explanatory. 


HE  title  of  this  little 
work  will  indicate  its 
object.  But  some  slight 
explanation  of  its  espe- 
cial aim  is  necessary. 
It  is  intended  to  be  a 
pocket  volume.  It  will 
not  attempt  to  super- 
sede larger  and  more 
detailed  and  descriptive 
fern-books.  Yet,  though 
it  will  assume  on  the 
part  of  its  readers  some 
general  knowledge  of 
the  beautiful  flowerless 
plants  which  form  its 
subject,  it  will,  for  con- 
venience-sake, give  de- 
scriptive, or  rather  de- 
finitive, notes  of  the 
ferns  whose  habitats 
it  will  indicate. 

Already,  in  such  works 
as  "  The  Fern  Port- 
folio," "  The  Fern 
Paradise,"  and  "The 
Fern  World,"  the  Author  has  given  descriptive  ac- 
counts, accompanied  by  coloured  and  other  illustra- 


2 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


tions,  of  all  the  species  of  British  ferns  ;  and  to  go 
over  again  the  ground  thus  occupied— and  occupied, 
too,  by  other  writers — would  be  unnecessary,  and  it 
would  be  also  impossible,  obviously,  to  give  either  the 
elaborate  illustration  or  the  information  in  those  works 
within  the  space  of  the  present  one,  which  is  merely 
intended  to  supply,  within  the  narrowest  possible  limits, 


indications  of  the  habitats  and  of  the  distribution 
throughout  the  country  of  our  British  ferns. 

The  Author  is  unaware  of  the  existence  of  any  similar 
volume  with  just  the  aim  of  this  one  ;  and  hence  its 
raison-d'^ire.  Fern-hunting,  to  lovers  of  ferns,  is  one  of 
the  most  delightful  of  pastimes.  It  gives  zest  to  any 
country  walk,  because  it  adds  the  attraction  of  a  hobby 
to  the  pleasure  of  being  out  of  doors.  Life,  in  the 
present  age,  is  far  too  sedentary,  and  there  exists  too 


EXPLANATORY. 


"3 


great  a  tendency  to  sit  in  rooms  with  closed  doors  and 
windows.  Some  people  seem  almost  to  dread  air  in 
motion,  and  they  become,  in  time,  so  little  used  to  it 
that,  at  length,  the  body  itself  is  brought  into  a  morbid 
state,  currents  of  air  become  "draughts,"  and  cold  and 
illness  are  the  result.  The  air  is  the  best  friend  we 
have,  and  in  seeking  outdoor  pastimes  in  the  country  we 
obtain  it  in  its  best  and  purest  form.  The  seeker  after 
ferns  must  ride  his  hobby  into  the  wildest  and  most  out- 
of-the-way  districts  (page  2),  and  into  the  most  delicious 
nooks  of  greenery — must  climb  hills,  wind  through 
valleys,  plunge  into  woods,  follow  the  course  of  streams, 
search  rocks,  hedgebanks,  and  forest-clumps,  examine 
old  walls  and  tree-forks,  and  look  everywhere,  in  short, 
where  green  life  has  a  chance  of  existence. 

But  many  persons  who  have  a  general  knowledge  of 
ferns  do  not  know  the  particular  places  in  which  the 
various  species  should  be  looked  for ;  and  it  would 
require  the  exercise  of  a  very  unusual  memory  to 
remember  the  particular  districts  over  which  the  various 
species  are  distributed,  or  from  which  certain  of  the 
commoner  kinds  are  excluded. 

To  supply  such  data  in  a  concise  form  under  the 
name  of  each  fern,  after  first  giving  illustrated  "Definitions 
of  Terms,"  an  illustrated  chapter  on  "  Fern  Habitats," 
and  a  chapter  on  "  The  Cultivation  of  Ferns,"  is  the 
especial  purpose  of  this  little  volume.  There  will  follow 
a  special  chapter  on  the  "  Ferns  round  London,"  and  an 
alphabetical  index  of  the  particular  localities  mentioned 
in  the  other  sections  of  the  book. 


4 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


n. — Definitions  of  Terms. 

O  render  unnecessary  the  repetition 
of  explanations  of  the  meaning 
of  the  botanical  terms  used  in 
the  description  of  the  parts  of 
ferns,  the  definition  of  such  terms 
as  are  used  in  this  volume  will  be 
here  given.  The  list  will  be 
as  short  as  possible,  because 
generally  the  simplest  and  least 
technical  expressions  will  be  used, 
and  botanical  terms  will  only  be 
resorted  to  when  they  indicate 
what  could  only  otherwise  be 
conveyed  by  several  words.  By 
reading  this  short  chapter  once 
or  twice  the  uninitiated  will,  therefore,  be  readily  able 
to  understand  all  that  is  said  in  the  succeeding  chapters, 
and  will  not  find  themselves  involved — as  they  would 
were  nothing  but  technical  terms  employed — in  the 
mazes  of  a  new  language. 

Ferns,  as  most  of  our  readers  will  scarcely  need  to 
be  reminded,  are  flowerless  plants,  allied  to  funguses, 
lichens,  liverworts,  mosses,  and  seaweeds,  but  standing 
higher  than  those  orders  in  the  scale  of  vegetation. 
Their  more  immediate  allies  are  plants  of  the  following 
orders  : — EquisctacecB  (Horsetails)  ;  Lycopodiacea  (Club- 
mosses)  and  Marsileacece  (Pepperworts).  All  these 
plants  belong  to  the  large  class  designated,  in  the 
botanical  arrangement  of  the  vegetable  kingdom, 
Cryptogamia — so  designated  because  the  fructification, 
produced  without  the  agency  of  flowers,  is  more  or  less 
concealed  by  being  borne  on  the  backs  or  edges  of  their 
leafy  parts. 


DEFINITIONS  OF  TERMS. 


5 


Here  is  a  portion — the  under  side  of  one  of  the  pinncs 
(or  branches)  of  the  Broad  Buckler  Fern  {Lastrea  dilatata) 
— showing  conspicuously  the  fruit  scattered  like  small 
spots  on  its  surface.    To  see  this  fruit  when  present,  the 


fronds  of  a  growing  plant  would  have  to  be  turned  up 
to  the  light. 

Like  other  plants,  ferns  consist  of  three  principal 
parts — roots,  stems,  and  leafy  parts.    The  accompanying 


divisions  and  the  organs  or  appendages  connected  with 
them,  will  be  described  as  follows. 


DEFINITIONS  OF  TERMS.  7 

All  ferns  have  roots  which  are  more  or  less  fibrous ; 
being  sometimes  very  fine,  tough,  and  wiry,  and  some- 
times thick,  brittle,  and  fleshy.    The  finer  fibrous  roots 


may  be  illustrated  by  those  of  the  Scaly  Splccnwort  ; 
the  thick,  brittle,  and  fleshy  ones  by  those  figured  in  the 
sketch,  on  this  page,  of  the  Moonwort  \Botrychium 


8 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


lunarid).  To  get  this  figure,  which  is  life-size,  into  our 
page,  it  is  shown  in  two  parts,  the  roots  and  part  of  the 
stem  or  stipes  on  the  right-hand  side,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  stem  (from  the  point  of  severance)  and  the  barren 
and  fertile  fronds  on  the  left-hand  side. 

The  steins  of  ferns  are  of  two  principal  kinds.  The 
one  kind  is  ordinarily  called  a  candex  or  corinus,  the 
other  a  rhizoma.  Strictly  speaking,  the  cmidex  simply 
means  the  stem,  of  whatever  kind.  Many  persons 
erroneously  regard  that  part  of  a  stem  which  is  wholly 
or  partially  buried  in  the  earth  as  a  root.  As  even 
botanists  give  various  and  conflicting  definitions  of  the 
parts  of  plants  which  are  either  roots  or  stems,  it  will  be 
desirable,  in  this  place,  to  make  it  clear  in  what  sense 
the  terms  employed  in  the  following  chapters  are  used 
in  relation  to  ferns. 

When  roots  are  referred  to,  it  will  be  understood  that 
the  expression  has  reference,  solely,  to  the  fibrous  under- 
ground parts  of  ferns,  such  as  that  shown  in  the  figure 
of  the  Scaly  Spleenwort  (page  6). 

The  7'ootstock  is  the  basal  part  of  the  stem  from  which, 
growing  downwards,  the  roots  spring.  The  upper  part 
of  the  stem  is  called  the  crown.  From  this  arise  the 
leafy  parts  of  ferns. 

If  the  stem  be  more  or  less  globular,  bulb-shaped, 
and  erect  in  habit,  it  is  said  to  be  a  cori/ms.  If  it  lies  or 
creeps  horizontally  upon,  or  underneath,  the  soil,  it  is 
called  a  rJnzoina. 

The  form  and  appearance  of  the  rhizoma  are  shown 
in  the  figure,  on  page  9,  of  that  very  beautiful  fern, 
the  European  Bristle  Fern  (^TricJiomanes  radicaiis). 

In  this  figure  the  creeping  stem  is  distinctly  indicated, 
with  its  fibrous  rootlets,  together  with  one  completely 
expanded,  and  three  unrolling  fronds  underneath.  71ie 
rhizoma,  as  the  illustration  also  shows,  is  clothed  with 
dark-coloured  hair  or  down. 

Few  of  our  native  ferns  have  stems  which  rise  more 


DEFINITIONS  OF  TERMS.  9 

than  an  inch  or  two  above  ground.  When  a  stem  rises  to 
a  height  of  many  feet  above  the  grovnid  it  forms  a  trunk, 
becomes  tree-hke,  and  ferns  of  this  habit  are  called  tree- 
ferns.    The  elongation  of  a  stem  to  form  a  trunk  is  a 


process  accomplished  by  the  heightening  of  the  crown 
of  the  cormus  ijy  the  retention,  each  year,  of  the  bases 
of  the  fronds  which  rise  above  it  in  a  circlet.  The  older 
the  fern,  therefore,  the  higher,  up  to  a  certain  limit,  will 


lO  WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


DEIINITIONS  OF  TERMS. 


be  the  trunk ;  for,  though  tlie  upper  parts  of  the  fronds 
die  away,  they  leave  the  lower  parts  as  contributions  to 
the  stem. 

How  beautiful  are  great  tree-like  forms  of  ferns 
(page  lo)  can  only  be  fully  appreciated  by  those  who 
have  seen  these  exquisitely-beautiful  inhabitants  of 
tropical  forests  in  their  native  habitats. 

The  only  British  species  that,  in  character,  at  all  re- 
sembles a  tree-fern  is  Osinunda  regalis^  which  forms  a 
trunk  sometimes  two  feet  in  height. 

From  the  upper  parts  of  the  stems  of  ferns  rise  the 
fronds^  the  name  given  to  their  leafy  parts.  The  term 
frond  will  be  here  used  to  mean  the  leafy  part  and  the 
long  or  short  stalk  which  supports  it  and  connects  it 
with  the  crown.  This  stalk  is  called  the  stipes ;  but, 
when  reference  is  made  to  the  shape  of  the  frond,  it 
must  be  understood  that  only  the  leafy  part  is  re- 
ferred to. 

In  the  ensuing  illustration  (page  12)  of  the  Lady  Fern 
I^Aihyrium  filix-foiniind)  the  leafy  part  is  shown  separately 
from  the  scaly  stipes  on  the  right-hand  side. 

The  mid-stem  of  the  frond,  continuing  from  the  stipes 
into  the  leafy  part,  is  called  the  racliis.  If  this  be 
branched,  the  principal  or  central  mid-rib  is  the  primary 
racIiis  and  the  branches  are  the  secondary  rac/iides. 

If  the  frond  assume  the  form  of  a  single  leaf  with  an 
unindentcd  margin,  it  is  said  to  be  simple.  The  term 
entire  is  used  to  refer  to  an  unindented  margin. 

In  the  figure,  on  page  13,  of  the  Adders-tongue 
{Ophioglossiim  vulgatiim)  the  oval  leafy  part  illustrates 
what  is  called  an  entire  margin. 

"When  the  frond  is  like  a  single  leaf  with  incisions 
which,  though  deep,  do  not  reach  down  to  the  rachis,  it 
is  described  as  being pinnatifid.  Such  is  the  form  illus- 
trated by  the  Scaly  Splecnwort  on  page  6.  If  the  in- 
dentations reach  the  rachis,  leaving  it  bare,  the  frond 
becomes  pinnate,  and  each  separated  leafy  part  is  called 

c 


DEFINITIONS  OF  TERMS. 


13 


a  pinna — all  the  parts  thus  separated  being  designated, 
in  the  aggregate,  pinnce.  The  pinnae  may  be  entire, 
simply  or  deeply  indented,  or  again, 
and  more  elaborately,  divided.  If 
twice  so  divided,  taking  the  entire 
form  as  the  starting-point,  the  frond 
is  bipijinate,  and  if  once  more,  or 
thrice  divided,  it  is  tripinnate.  It 
is  decompound  if  more  than  three 
times  divided.  The  parts  into  which 
pinnae  are  immediately  subdivided 
are  termed  pinnules.  The  immediate 
subdivisions  of  pinnules  are  lobes. 
Thus  a  thrice-divided  frond,  such 
as  that  of  the  Bracken,  consists  of 
stipes,  rachis,  secondary  rachides, 
pinnje,  pinnules,  and  lobes. 

The  seeds  of  ferns,  differing  es- 
sentially from  the  seeds  of  flowering 
plants,  are  called  spores.  They  are 
dust-like  bodies  infinitesimally  small, 
and  are  enclosed — on  the  backs  or 
along  the  under  edges  of  the  fronds 
in  a  particular  order — in  differently- 
shaped  spore-cases  called  sporangia. 
The  sporangia  are  generally  pro- 
duced in  clusters  or  heaps  called 
sori,  each  individual  cluster  being 
called  a  sorus. 

In  the  figure  of  a  pinna  of  the 
Broad  Buckler  Fern  on  page  5, 
the  arrangement  of  these  heaps  or 
clusters  of  spore-cases  was  indicated. 
Here  (page  14)  is  a  magnified  lobe  of 
a  pinnule  of  the  same  frond,  magni- 
fied so  as  to  show  very  clearly  its  form,  and  the  form 
and  position  of  each  sorus  with  respect  to  the  veins  of 

C  2 


14 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERXS. 


the  leafy  part,  and  to  show  also  the  hairiness  of  the 
stem  from  which  it  springs  and  the  incisions  of  the  leafy 

margin.  The  shape  of  the 
sorus  differs  in  different  ferns. 
It  is  mostly  rounded;  but  in 
some  ferns,  as  shown  in  the 
subjoined  illustration  of  a 
portion  of  a  frond  of  the  Male 


but  shows  clearly  the 


Fern  {Lastrea  filix-mas),  it  is 
kidney-shaped.  The  annexed 
figure,  much  enlarged  from  the 
natural  size  of  a  portion  of  a 
Male  Fern  frond,  shows  very 
clearly  both  the  shape  (and  the 
position  with  regard  to  the 
veins)  of  the  sorus. 

Sometimes  tlie  sori  arc  pro- 
tected by  scale-like  coverings. 
Each  such  covering  protecting 
a  sorus  is  named  an  indiisiiini. 
On  page  15  is  a  drawing  of  an 
indusium  of  a  sorus  of  the  Broad 
Buckler  Fern,  one  of  the 
I.astrcas.  It  is  much  magnified, 
kidney  shape  and  the  jagged 


DEFINITIONS  OF  TERMS. 


15 


margin.  Where  there  are  no  indnsia  the  sori  are  said 
to  be  iiort-ifidi/siate,  or-  naked.  In  some  species  the 
margins  of  the  pinnules  are  turned  bade 
over  the  sori  and  cover  them  after  the 
manner  of  indusia.  The  fructification,  in 
such  cases,  is  produced  close  to  the  ex- 
treme outer  edges  of  the  leafy  parts  of  the 
frond,  and  is  then  said  to  be  marginal. 
In  the  case  of  those  sori  covered  by 
indusia  when  the  spores  are  ripened,  the  indusia  dry 
up  and  fall  off,  and  the  spore-cases  enclosed  themselves 
burst  and  liberate  the  infinitesimal  crerms  thev  contain. 
We  shall  see  presently  what  is  the  shape  of  some  spores 
and  spore-cases. 

Frttctificatioji  is  a  term  applied  to  the  general  system 
of  spores.  Some  fronds  bear  no  fructification,  in  which 
case  they  are  said  to  be  barrot;  whilst  others,  upon  the 
same  plant,  are  spore-bearing,  and  these  are  called 
fertile  fronds.  The  fructification,  as  we  have  seen  by 
the  magnified  figures  on  page  14,  is  attached  to  the 
veins  which  ramify  over  the  leafy  substance  of  the 
frond.  The  system  of  veins  is  called  the  venation.  That 
particular  portion  of  the  venation  to  which  the  fructifica- 
tion is  attached  bears  the  name  of  the  receptacle. 

Into  a  detailed  consideration  of  the  question  of  classi- 
fication it  is  not  the  design  of  this  volume  to  enter. 

Ferns  constitute  a  great  class  of  the  vegetable  king- 
dom. According  to  one  of  our  botanical  systems  this 
class  is  subdivided  into  orders,  the  orders  Ixxlo  genera,  the 
genera  into  species,  the  species  into  varieties.  In  the 
botanical  arrangement  of  British  plants  under  this  par- 
ticular system  ferns  belong  to  the  third  class — called 
Acotyledons  or  Cryptogams  (the  other  two  classes  of  plants 
being,  i.  Dicotyledons  ;  and,  2,  Monocotyledons).  These 
collective  expressions  are  used  to  indicate  that  the 
plants  which  are  designated  by  them  are  produced  from 
seeds  which  are  of  three  kinds:  i,  seeds  which  have 


i6 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


each  two  cotyledons — a  cotyledon  being  a  seed-lobe,  and, 
for  assimilative  purposes,  a  seed-leaf  whether  developed 
above  ground  or  beneath  the  soil ;  2,  seeds  which 
have  each  one  cotyledon;  and,  3,  seeds,  without  coty- 
ledons, such  as  are  the  spores  of  cryptogamic  plants. 

Under  the  same  system  there  are  in  the  class  of 
Acotyledons  nine  orders,  of  which  itrm—Jilices — con- 
stitute the  first.  The  orders  are  subdivided  into 
tribes,  the  tribes  into  genera,  and  these  into  species  and 
varieties.  Under  filices  there  are  four  tribes,  nineteen 
genera,  forty-five  species,  and  almost  endless  varieties. 
Here  we  shall  only  take  note  of  genera  and  species, 
and  the  descriptive  and  enumerative  parts  of  the  volume 
will  thus  be  found  divided  into  forty-five  sections, 
headed  by  the  common  and  botanical  name  of  each 
species  of  British  fern.  But,  before  leaving  the  present 
chapter,  we  shall  say  a  little  about  fern-spores,  and 
indicate  the  classification  adopted  by  botanists  with 
regard  to  British  ferns  in  so  far  as  it  is  based  upon 
the  character  of  the  spore-cases,  and  the  character  of 
the  unrolling  fronds. 

British  ferns,  then,  are  divided  for  purposes  of 
classification  into  three  groups,  named,  i,  Poly- 
I'ODiACE^  ;  2,  OsMUNDACE/K  ;  and,  3,  Ophioglossace/e. 
The  first  group,  Polypodiaceo',  includes  ten  smaller 
groups,  comprising  fifteen  genera  :  viz.  :  Polypodimn, 
Allosiirits,  Gyninogranuna,  Folystickuni,  Lastrea,  At/iy- 
riuni,  Aspleniiint,  Scolopendriuni,  Blec/munt,  Pteris, 
Adiantuni,  Cystopteris,  IVoodsia,  Tric/ionianes,  and  Ily- 
?nenophyllu!ii.  The  spore-cases  in  this  group  are  girt  by 
an  elastic  ring  which,  on  bursting,  causes  the  spore-case 
to  open  by  what  is  called  a  "transverse  fracture."' 
The  form  of  the  case,  the  elastic  ring,  the  manner 
in  which  it  opens,  and  the  shape  of  the  spores 
enclosed  in  it  are  illustrated  by  the  diagrams  which 
follow,  and  which  exhibit  the  Common  Polypody 
{Folypodiian  vu/gare),  with  a  portion  of  its  rhizoma, 


DEFINITIONS  OF  TERMS. 


17 


a.  frond,  a  spore-case  enormously  enlarged,  much  enlarged 
spores,  and  enlarged  pinnte,  exhibiting,  in  one  case,  the 
veins,  and,  in  the  other,  enlarged,  non-indusiate  sori. 


The  manner  of  the  fronds  unrolling — a  character  which 
characterises  the  group— is  circinate  or  scroll-like,  and 
is  shown  in  another  genus  belonging  to  the  group,  a 


l8  M'HERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 

species  of  which,  Asplenium  ceterach,  has  been  previously 
figured  on  page  6. 

The  next  group,  Osanmdacea;,  includes  only  one  genus 
and  one  species  in  Britain,  Osimmda  regalis ;  and,  thougli 
the  fronds  are  rolled  up  in  the  same  way  as  in  Poly- 
podiacea,  there  is  no  elastic  ring  around  the  spore-cases, 
and  these  are  two-valved,  and  burst  vertically. 

The  accompanying  marginal  cut  will  show  the  shape 
and  manner  of  opening  of  the  spore-case 
and  the  form  of  the  spores,  all  being, 
of  course,  magnified. 

In  the  third  group,  Ophioglossacece, 
are  two  genera  and  three  species,  viz.. 


Botrycliiuin  luiiaria  and  Ophioglossuvt  vu/gafm/t  and  litsi- 
tanicum.  The  fronds  in  this  group  are  folded  up  straight. 


FERN  HACri'ATS. 


19 


and  the  spore-cases  are  two-valved,  and  have  no  elastic 
ring,  as  will  be  seen  on  examining  the  figures  given  with 
the  illustration,  on  page  7,  of  the  Moonwort. 

Accompanying  the  figure,  given  on  page  9,  of  the 
European  Bristle  Fern,  an  enlarged  diagram  shows  the 
urn-shaped  and  peculiar  position  of  its  receptacle. 
Through  the  centre  of  this  receptacle  the  prolonged 
end  of  a  vein  passes,  and  on  this  vein  are  strung  the 
spore-cases.  The  urn  shape  of  the  receptacle,  in  the 
case  of  the  two  Filmy  Ferns,  is  also  conspicuously  shown 
in  the  illustrations,  on  page  18,  of  those  ferns. 


III. — Fern  Hauitats. 

O  can  doubt  that  much  of  the 
fascinating  attraction  of  the  pur- 
suit of  ferns  arises  from  the  love- 
liness of  the  spots  where  they 
grow,  and,  to  those  new  to  the 
pastime,  from  the  pleasurable  sur- 
prise attendant  upon  finding  forms, 
of  beauty  in  places  so  dark  and 
shadowy  as  to  be  half  gloomy  ?' 
Looking  into  such  places, — hol- 
lows in  rocks,  openings  in  the  leafy 
shrouds  of  hedge-banks,  and  the 
shadowy  spaces  which  lie  beneath 
the  dense  undergrowlhs  of  woods 
— the  eye,  at  first,  oftentimes  sees- 
nothing  but  the  merest  shadowy  outlines.  But,  as  it 
becomes  accustomed  to  the  darkness,  it  begins  to 
di.scern  the  delicate,  graceful,  and  feathery  forms  of 
some  members  of  the  great  family  of  shade  and  mois- 
ture-loving jilants.     Looking  still,  the   forms  become 


20 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


bolder,  until  every  curve  and  indentation  stands  out 
•with  perfect  distinctness.  At  other  times  the  eye  is 
pleased  with  the  wealth  of  beauty  revealed  to  it  by  the 
crowding  of  graceful  ferny  forms  upon  open  hill-sides, 
.over  sunlit  forest  glades,  or  upon  the  boulder-strewn 
-expanse  of  some  rugged  moorland.  The  country  which 
produces  the  most  beautiful  scenery  furnishes  in  greatest 
abundance  the  most  lovely  forms  of  fern  life ;  and  ferns 
lend  additional  beauty  to  lovely  scenery. 

Yet  ferns  are  often  present  in  many  places  without 
being  seen.  They  are  so  modest  and  retiring  in  habit, 
ithat  they  frequently  hide,  so  to  speak,  in  the  most 
sequestered  nooks.  But  it  is  always  easy  to  find  them 
when  it  is  known  where  to  look  for  them.  Their  powers 
of  reproduction  are  so  great,  the  infinitesimal  spores  are 
•so  easily  wafted  far  and  wide  by  the  restless  winds,  when 
ithe  season  of  ripening  has  arrived  and  the  bursting 
•sporangia  have  set  at  liberty  the  multitudes,  infinitely 
vast,  of  their  imprisoned  germs,  that  the  presence  even 
of  the  rarest  ferns  is  always  possible,  even  in  places  least 
suspected  to  possess  them. 

It  may  generally  be  assumed  that,  wherever  ferns  have 
been  once  actually  discovered,  they  will  be  found  again, 
if  not  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  at  least  somewhere  in 
ithe  same  neighbourhood.  Even  when  well-known 
habitats  of  rare  ferns  have  been  stripped  of  all  promi- 
nently visible  specimens,  the  old  ferns  taken  away  are 
almost  certain  to  have  had  opportunities  of  shedding 
their  spores  before  their  removal ;  and  in  a  year  or  two, 
when  the  minute  seedlings  have  had  time  to  assume 
ferny  forms,  they  may  be  looked  for  in  the  same  spots 
with  a  tolerable  certainty  of  finding  them,  provided  the 
■conditions  of  growth  have  not  been  changed  by  an 
alteration  in  the  character  of  the  habitats. 

With  regard  to  several  species  of  British  ferns,  the 
recorded  habitats  are  very  few  in  number,  and  the  species 
an  question  are  pronounced  to  be  "  rare."    But,  when  it 


FERN  HABITATS. 


Is  remembered  that  the  opportunities  of  obtaining  the 
topographical  information  which  has  been  pubHshed  in 
books  on  this  subject  have  necessarily  been  limited,  it 
may  fairly  be  assumed  that  the  habitats  of  these  ferns 
•are  much  more  numerous  than  they  are  generally  sup- 
posed to  be.  Small  as  are  the  British  Islands,  and 
thoroughly  overrun  as  are  most  parts  of  them,  there  are, 
nevertheless,  tens  of  thousands  of  places  suitable  for  the 
growth  of  ferns  that  are  practically  terra  incognita, 
though  not  by  any  means  inaccessible  to  the  fern-hunter. 
The  Author  of  this  volume  has  frequently,  in  the  earlier 
days  of  his  fern-hunting  excursions,  in  looking  for  rare 
ferns  in  places  to  which  experienced  guides  have  directed 
him,  by  taking  the  trouble  to  look  further  in  the  same 
neighbourhood,  come  upon  places  surprisingly  rich  in 
specimens  whose  existence  had  been  wholly  unsuspected 
and  obviously  unknown.  These  "  finds  "  have  been  due 
to  careful  notings  of  the  favourite  habitats  of  the  species, 
and  to  the  application  of  this  knowledge  to  the  practical 
working  of  a  system  of  persistent  and  elaborate  search. 
Yet  the  occupation  has  always  been  a  pleasurable  one, 
and  has  only  been  undertaken  as  a  delightful  holiday 
pastime. 

What  is  true  of  small  districts  is  likely  to  be  equally 
true  of  large  ones.  The  Author  believes  that  many 
ferns,  supposed  to  be  entirely  absent  from  certain  parts 
of  this  country,  are  really  present,  but  undiscovered. 
He  has  had  many  proofs,  furnished  to  him  by  numerous 
correspondents,  of  the  occurrence  of  certain  ferns  in 
counties  and  districts  never  before  recorded  as  possess- 
ing them. 

One  especial  feature  of  this  volume  will  be  its  indi- 
cations of  the  particular  positions  in  which  ferns  grow,  so 
that  the  exact  places  in  which  to  look  for  the  various 
species  may  be  known.  This  information,  derived  from 
the  Author's  own  knowledge,  will  be  supplemented  by  the 
fullest  possible  lists  of  the  counties — for  the  more  widely 


22 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


distributed  species — and  of  the  smaller  districts— for  the 
rarer  kinds — in  which  each  fern  has  been  discovered 
growing  wild.  For  some  of  this  information  as  to  county 
localities,  the  Author  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Hewett  Watson^s 
"Topographical  Botany."  To  give  minutely-detailed 
indications  of  the  exact  spots  in  which  the  various  ferns 


are  to  be  found  would  be  to  destroy  half  the  charm  of 
fern-hunting. 

The  Author  desires  especially  to  impress  upon  those 
who  may  read  and  itse  this  book  that  there  is  no  outing 
in  the  country — however  brief  may  be  the  period  during 
which  it  lasts,  and  however  apparently  unpromising  may 


FERN  HABITATS. 


23 


be  the  district— that  may  not  result  in  the  finding  of  some 
ferns  which  may  be  none  the  less  valued  because  they 
are  common.  The  rarity  of  a  "  find  "  does,  however,  un- 
tjuestionably  give  pleasure  to  the  majority  of  fern-hunters. 
And  such  brief  outings  as  have  been  referred  to  are  sure 
to  have  great  zest  given  to  them  by  the  possibility  of 
finding  a  "  prize  "  as  the  result  of  a  minute  and  careful 
search  in  such  places  as  those  indicated  in  the  im- 
mediately succeeding  pages. 

If,  now,  we  can  pictorially  as  well  as  verbally  indicate 
the  places  in  which  the  fern-lover  may  expect  to  find 
the  object  of  his  quest,  we  shall,  we  trust,  impart  a  new 
]5leasure  to  a  delightful  pursuit. 

First,  then,  let  us  take  the  ever-abundant  and  delightful 
Bracken  {Pteris  aquiUnd)  (page  22),  which  with  feathery 
grace  and  beauty  drapes  wide  areas  of  common,  moor, 
and  forest,  fringing  paths  for  miles  in  open  glade  and  shady 
woodland  path,  as  hardy  and  luxuriant  as  it  is  beautiful. 
It  loves  the  sun  as  no  fern  does,  and  even  in  sunlit  forest 
glades  will  sometimes  rise  so  high  on  either  side  as  to 
hide  the  tallest  passer-by.  It  is  by  far  the  most  abundant 
of  all  its  kind,  and  is  the  most  familiar  to  those  who  know 
least  how  to  distinguish  a  fern  from  another  plant. 

On  page  24  is  a  little  peep  of  the  Doone  Glen,  ren- 
dered immortal  by  Mr.  Blackmore's  fascinating  story  of 
"  Lorna  Doone.'"'  Upon  just  such  upland  slopes  as  those 
which  rise  from  the  stream  that  winds  through  this  moor- 
land, the  Bracken  would  be  found,  and  down  by  the  water's 
margin,  in  little  stony  but  rich  and  moist  nooks,  one 
might  look  with  confidence  for  the  delightfully-scented 
golden  green  Mountain  Buckler  Fern  {Lasirea  montnna). 
In  similar  nooks  along  the  stream-bank,  often  growing  in 
clumps  with  the  Mountain  Buckler  Fern,  would  be  also 
found  the  Hard  Fern  {Bkchnuin  spicant).  Under 
shelter  of  the  trees,  shown  in  the  foreground  of  the 
lecture,  yet  coying  down  as  near  as  possible  to  the  moor- 
land stream   the  Hartstonguc  {Scolopcndriiiin  vii/gare) 


24  WHERE  TO  FIND  FERXS. 

and  the  Lady  Fern  {Athyriuju  filix-fceniina)  would  be 
found  growing  singly  or  together  in  clumps,  roots  inter- 
lacing with  roots.  Under  the  same  shady  influence  it 
must  be  strange  if  we  did  not  come  upon  Osmimda 
7-ega/is,  but  this  would  be  in  positions  where  the  soil 
was  more  than  usually  peaty  and  soft,  and  where  tlie 
rootlets  could  touch  the  percolating  water. 


Talking  of  Mr.  Blackmore  and  his  beautiful  book 
tempts  us  to  give  a  little  glimpse,  on  page  25,  of  the 
Bagworthy  water-slide  at  the  foot  of  the  same  Doone 
Glen,  a  spot  known  by  heart  to  thousands  who  have  never 
seen  the  place,  but  whose  recollections  will  never  cease  to 
vividly  retain  the  graphic  and  awe-inspiring  recital  of  Jan 


FERN  HABITATS. 


25 


Ridd's  adventure  up  this  famous  slide  to  find  love  and 
Lorna  in  the  terrible  DooneGlen  at  its  head.  What  lover 
of  ferns  could  fail  to  recognise,  in  such  a  spot  as  this  which 
we  have  just  opened  to  view,  a  chosen  abode  of  ferns? 
Here,  at  the  foot  of  the  rocks,  the  Lady  Fern  would 
revel  in  the  moist  and  halfgloomy  air.    So  would  the 


Hartstongue  and  the  Hard  Fern.  Upon  the  rocks- 
themselves  we  should  find  the  common  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort  {Asplciiinin  iric/toniancs),  the  Wall  Rue 
{Asple/iiiiin  ritta-iiii/raria),  the  Common  Polypody;  and 
possibly,  if  careful  search  were  made,  the  Mountain 
Polypody  {Polypodiuiii  plicgoptejis)  in  the  moister  leaf 
mould    corners  ;   the    lilack    Maidenhair   Spleenwoi  l 


s6  ■  WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 

{Aspleniwn  adiantum-nigruin)^  too,  nestling  in  sheltered 
stony  crevices.  Then,  up  stream  amongst  the  trees,  not  too 
far  up,  but  near  the  base  of  the  fall,  the  Prickly-toothed 
Buckler  Fern  {Lastrea  spinulosa),  and  possibly  a  speci- 


men or  two  of  Osmunda.  Many  of  these,  especially  the 
rarer  kinds,  have  perhaps  been  carried  off  by  the 
thousands  of  visitors  to  this  enchanted  spot.  The 
Author  only  knows  that,  when  he  visited  the  Doone  Glen 
and  the  water-slide,  he  saw  many  of  the  species  he  has 


FERN  HABITATS. 


27 


enumerated,  and  it  is  just  such  spots  as  these  that 
should  furnish  the  kinds  of  fern  that  have  been  named. 

Talking  of  Devonshire,  we  must  give  one  or  two 
little  pictures  of  its  scenery  in  places  certain  to  be 
crowded  with  many  kinds  of  ferns. 

Here  (page  26)  is  a  bit  of  the  Plym,  near  Cadover 
Bridge.  The  river  is  brawHng  along  just  as  Devonshire 
rivers  like  to  brawl,  softly  and  musically,  though  with 
great  meaning,  which  implies  the  power  to  thunder  when 
heavy  rains  upon  the  moors  bring  down  the  waters 
with  a  sudden  rush  that  bears  no  resistance.  Amongst 
the  riverine  boulders  the  fern-hunter  will  not  look  in 
vain  probably,  even  if  he  have  to  search  a  little  way,  for 
Osmunda  and  Blechnuiii,  Lady  Fern  and  Male  Fern 
{Lastrea  filix-mas).  Three  other  Buckler  Ferns  he  is  not 
unlikely  to  find, — the  Mountain,  the  Prickly-toothed, 
and  the  Crested.  The  upland  immediately  beyond  the 
water  will  certainly  give  him  Pteris  aquilina,  and — not 
impossibly — careful  search  amongst  the  grassy  roots 
would  lead  to  the  discovery  of  the  Moonwort,  and  a 
little  more  towards  the  water,  if  he  looks  in  somewhat 
moister  positions  than  he  expects  to  find  Botrychium 
lunaria  in,  the  Adders-tongue  {Ophioglossum  vulgaiui/i). 

Looking  out  now  for  wood  and  water,  we  could 
scarcely  select  a  more  typical  bit  of  Devonshire  fern 
country  than  the  scene  in  Bickleigh  Vale,  represented  on 
page  28.  From  these  stony  water-margins  are  sure  to 
look  out,  their  roots  snugly  embedded  in  the  leaf-mould 
angles  of  their  rocky  habitats,  grand  specimens  of  Lady 
Fern,  Hartstongue,  Hard  Fern,  and,  a  little  higher  on  the 
banks,  the  Hard  and  Soft  Prickly  Shield  Ferns,  the  Com- 
mon Polypody,  the  Broad  Buckler  Fern,  and  the  Black 
Maidenhair  Spleenwort.  In  this  same  neighbourhood, 
creeping  along  over  moist  stony  surfaces,  there  should 
be  found  masses  of  the  two  Filmy  Ferns,  Hymenophylhim 
tufibridgense  and  Hytnenophylliim  wiilaterale. 

The  beautiful  Filmy  Ferns,  though  absent  from  many 

D 


28 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


wide  areas  of  country,  are  very  abundant  in  those 
spots  in  which  the  conditions  of  their  delicate  growth 
are  fulfilled.  Amongst  places  known  to  the  Author, 
there  are  none  where  he  has  found  them  in  such  great 
abundance  as  in  the  delicious  bit  of  fern  country  lying 
contiguous  to  Shaugh  Bridge,  that  crosses  the  ferny  Plym, 


of  which  mention  has  just  been  made.  Our  illustration 
(page  29)  will  give  a  glimpse  of  the  boulder  bed  of 
this  pretty  river.  Not  far  from  the  bridge  there  rises 
from  the  stream-level  what  may  be  termed  a  boulder 
amphitheatre,  consisting  of  great  rocks,  some  smooth 
and  some  rugged,  and  ranging  in  size  from  boulders  like 
those  shown  in  our  picture  to  giant  rocks,  that  look  as 


FERN  HABITATS, 


29 


if  some  giant  hand  had  scattered  the  rocky  hills  around, 
and  thrown  the  debris  into  the  valley.  Here  and  there 
tiny  rills  trickle  down  from  the  higher  rocks  to  the  river 
below,  and  in  many  a  moist  position,  in  rocky  hollows 


between  rock  and  rock,  and  on  the  crest  of  the  stony 
surfaces,  the  Filmy  Ferns  form  dense  carpetings.  Veri- 
table carpetings  they  are,  for  the  fibrous  roots  and  the 
extensively  creeping  rhizomas  of  the  ferns  are  so  thick 

D  2 


30 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


and  matted  that  they  could  be  stripped  from  the  rocks 
in  sheets,  though  no  fern-gatherer  should  take  more  than 
a  modest  share  of  what  is  intended  for  all. 

Stony  bridges  no  longer  new,  when  the  mortar  begins 
to  crumble,  and  leaf-mould  to  gather  in  the  crevices  from 
which  the  mortar  falls,  form  happy  hunting-grounds  for 
fern-gatherers.  Such  a  bridge  as  we  have  just  repre- 
sented as  spanning  the  beautiful  Plym,  or  one  like  that 
we  give  below,  at  Dolgelly,  is  just  the  kind  of  structure 


for  several  kinds  of  ferns  to  grow  on.  On  the  top  and 
sides  would  be  found  the  Common  Polypody,  small  on 
the  open  face  of  the  structure,  larger  in  places  where 
ivy-roots  keep  in  the  moisture  and  retain  the  leaf-mould. 
Hartstongues,  too,  only  the  smaller  specimens,  but 
larger  or  smaller  according  to  just  the  same  conditions 
as  those  which  influence  the  Polypodies,  would  be  found 
in  similar  positions.  Tiny  specimens  might  be  found, 
too,  of  the  Hard  and  Soft  Prickly  Shield  Ferns.  But 


I'KRN  HAlilTATS. 


31 


old  stony  structures  are  almost  the  favourite  habitats  of 
the  Common  and  some  of  the  rarer  Spleenworts.  The 
Rue-leaved,  the  Common  Maidenhair,  the  Black  Maiden- 
hair, and  the  Scaly  Spleenworts,  are  certain  to  be  found 
in  such  places,  some  in  one  and  some  in  another,  and, 
not  impossibly  though  rarely,  the  Rock,  the  Alternated, 
the  Forked,  and,  if  near  the  sea,  the  Lanceolate  and  the 
Sea  Spleenworts. 

Talking  of  Asploiiuiii  lana'olatinii,  let  us  illustrate  one 
of  its  favourite  habitats  by  just  this  Httle  view  of  rock. 


Our  readers  will  notice  the  almost  perpendicular  crevices 
in  this  rock.  If  within  the  influence  of  the  sea,  this  is 
just  the  kind  of  rocky  fissure  in  which  to  peer  carefully 
for  the  Lanceolate  Spleenvvort,  especially  if  from  above 
a  tiny  rill  flows  along  the  rocky  surface,  and  down 
between  the  crevices.  In  these  leaf-mould  will  gather, 
and  the  air  will  always  be  moist,  and  hence  the  love  for 
it  of  our  moisture-loving  fern.  If  such  rocks  looked 
right  upon  the  sea,  and  were  near  the  beach,  then  in  the 
.same  crevices  one    might  expect  to  find  Asplcniiiin 


32 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


viarimim.  But  the  mere  mention  of  that  veiy  beautiful 
glossy-fronded  member  of  the  flowerless  family  brings 


sweet  Devon  again  to  the  mind's  eye ;  and  for  the  reader 
who,  not  having  seen  it,  cannot  recall  its  lovely  scenes 


FERN  HABITATS. 


33 


to  mind,  we  will  give  this  little  peep  (page  32)  of  a  cove 
in  Torbay ;  and  we  do  this,  not  only  because  the  peep 
itself  will  be  refreshing,  but  because  we  can  thus  illustrate 
the  habitats  of  two  beautiful  ferns.  In  the  lower  crannies 
of  the  cliffs,  if  moisture  chances  either  to  be  trickling 
down  from  above  over  the  rocky  face  or  oozing  out  from 


the  rock  itself,  you  will  be  very  likely  to  find  Asplcititiiii 
viariinim,  and  in  amongst  the  shrubs  on  the  overgrown 
face  of  the  cliff  on  the  near  side  is  just  llic  kind  of  place 
to  hunt  for  the  rare  and  delicately-beautiful  1'ruc  Maiden- 
hair {Adiantuin  capillus-vcitcris).  These  particular  cliffs 
might  not  furnish  cither  of  the  ferns  wc  have  mentioned  ; 
but,  nevertheless,  the  places  illustrated  arc  just  the  places 


34 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


to  search  in,  and  the  Author  has  found  both  ferns  in 
Torbay. 

And  now,  reluctantly  leaving  Devonshire  and  its  ferny 
scenes,  let  us  illustrate  some  fern  habitats  in  other  places. 
And,  first,  a  view  shall  be  given  of  the  far-famed  Cheddar 
Cliffs  (page  33),  an  especial  haunt  of  the  Limestone 
Polypody,  which  grows,  as  the  True  Maidenhair  is  also 
asserted  to  grow,  in  the  moist  picturesque  nooks  of 
this  rocky  region.  Rich  as  it  is  in  many  other  of  the 
common  kinds  of  fern,  the  Cheddar  district  of  Somerset- 
shire must  be  especially  remembered  for  the  two  species 
just  mentioned. 

In  the  succeeding  pages  the  reader  will  often  be  told 
of  rocky  habitats  for  such  of  the  rarer  ferns  as  the 
Woodsias,  the  Holly  Fern,  the  Bladder  Ferns,  the 
Spleenworts,  the  Rigid  Buckler  Fern,  and  the  rarer 
Polypodies.  Here  (page  35)  is  such  a  one,  and,  should 
the  fern-hunter  be  in  any  part  of  the  country  where,  as 
the  succeeding  lists  will  tell  him,  he  may  hope  to  find 
some  of  these  rarer  ferns,  let  him  not  neglect  to  carefully 
search  such  likely  spots.  It  would  be  really  difficult 
for  any  one  with  a  real  eye  for  ferns,  to  pass  without 
peering  into  all  moist  crannies  of  such  rocks,  where 
"  something  green  "  suggests  a  ferny  presence,  without  a 
most  careful  scrutiny. 

On  page  36  is  yet  another  bit  of  suggestive  rock.  To 
climb  it  may  be  difficult ;  yet  a  jutting  fragment  here  and 
there,  for  the  feet  to  safely  secure  a  hold,  and  a  friendly 
shrub  growing  out  from  the  cliff-side  will  often  tempt  one 
to  climb,  if  only  a  little  way,  to  get  at  some  very  graceful- 
looking  clump,  that  certainly  must  be  a  fern  of  some 
kind,  and  that  may  chance  (who  knows  ?)  to  be  a  rare 
find,  unseen  or  unexamined  by  all  previous  passers-by. 

So  much  for  the  dry  rocky  places  beloved  of  the 
ferns.  Now  for  the  moister  ones.  There  is  a  species 
of  dry  eloquence  in  rocks  everywhere.  But  they  seem 
to  speak  when  the  mountain  torrent  rushes  over  them. 


36 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Yet,  like  nature  everywhere,  even  in  this  seemingly  fierce 
aspect,  there  is  an  under-tone  of  pathos  and  tenderness ; 
for  how  otherwise  could  the  tender  and  beautiful  ferns 
cling  so  lovingly  to  their  rough  sides  ? 

Let  us  look  at  the  bit  of  scenery  on  the  opposite 
page  from  "the bonny  Dee."    In  such  a  neighbourhood 


as  this  we  should  look  and  be  disappointed  not  to  find 
the  Parsley  Fern,  all  the  Polypodies,  the  Hard  Prickly 
Shield  Fern,  and  the  Holly  Fern,  the  Brittle  and  the 
Mountain  Bladder  Ferns,  the  Male,  the  Broad  and  the 
Mountain  Buckler  Ferns,  the  Alternated,  the  Rue- 
leaved,  the  Black  Maidenhair,  the  Green,  and  the 
Common  Maidenhair  Spleenworts. 


FERN  HABITATS. 


37 


The  mcnlion  of  ScoUish  scenery  reminds  us  of  a 
charming  picture,  in  a  charming  book, — "  Habbies 


Howe,"  (page  43),  in  Dr.  (Green's  "ScoUish  Tictures." 
By  the  courtesy  of  tlic  publishers,  the  Religious  Tract 


38 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Society,  we  reproduce  from  their  engraving  a  little  bit 
of  water  and  fern.  What  a  happy  figure  is  this  fern,  and 
who  can  doubt  that  it  is  the  beautiful  Lady  Fern  ?  What 
beauty  and  grace  does  this  lovely  plant  fling  over  the 
wild  yet  romantic  scene  in  which  it  figures  ! 

For  a  bit,  now,  of  characteristic  Cumberland  scenery, 
how  could  we  do  better  than  give  the  "  Lodore  Fall  ?" 
(page  39).     A  glance  at  our  Index  of  Localities  at  the 


end  ot  this  volume  will  tell  the  reader  that  Lodore  Fall 
is  one  of  the  habitats  of  the  One-sided  Filmy  Fern  ;  but 
further  search  through  the  succeeding  pages  will  prove 
that,  out  of  the  forty-five  species  of  ferns  figured  and 
described,  no  less  than  thirty-four  are  to  be  found  in 
Cumberland.  Rich,  indeed,  are  the  counties  of  Devon 
and  Cumberland  in  the  beautiful  denizens  of  wood,  lane, 
and  stream-bank ;  and  no  hunting  collector  would  go 
away  from  such  a  neighbourhood  as  that  just  illustrated 


FERN  HABITATS. 


39 


without  getting  a  rich  store  in  numbers  and  variety  ol 
the  flowerless  plants. 

Whilst  we  are  talkinc;  of  numbers  of  this  delightful 


Ef     1  V  K  >. 


family  that  more  than  others  seek  the  immediate  neigh- 
bourhood of  water,  yet  without  dipping  into  it,  let  us 
not  forget  one  that  alone  of  its  P.ritish  congeners  grows, 


40 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


not  near,  but  in  water.  We  refer  to  the  Marsh  Buckler 
Fern;  and  here  below  is  a  tiny  bit  of  "locality"  just 
suited  to  Lastrea  thelypteris.  It  is  obviously  boggy,  and 
in  entering  at  the  point  shown  in  the  foreground  of 
the  little  sketch  one  would  necessarily  have  to  pick 
one's  way.  A  bog  overgrown  with  trees,  just  as  this 
seems  to  be,  is  the  place  to  find  the  finest  specimens  of 
this  water-loving  or  liquid-peat-soil-loving  fern. 

Mr.  Boot  knows  how  to  draw  trees  and  ferns,  as  may 
be  seen  by  the  little  picture  on  page  41  of  oaks  at 


Bradgate ;  but  the  artist  leaves  the  fern-lover  to  guess 
whether  he  is  depicting  Bracken  or  Buckler  Fern  in  the 
foreground  of  his  drawing.  In  just  such  positions  one 
might  expect  to  find  either  the  Bracken  or  the  Common 
and  Broad  Buckler  Ferns,  whilst  by  the  water's  edge 
there  might  surely  be  some  Lady  Ferns. 

Our  artists  in  general  have  sadly  neglected  the  ferns, 
and,  when  it  is  considered  how  much  beauty  is  lent  to 
all  scenery  by  the  presence  of  ferns,  the  omission  is 
strange.   On  page  42,  however,  is  a  happy  little  sketch  by 


FERN  HABITATS. 


41 


one  who,  when  he  has  determined  to  give  us  a  bit  of 
water, — this  is  a  Severn  scene, — and  banks  sloping  down 
to  it,  does  not  forget  the  important  suggestiveness  of  a 
few  Bracken  in  the  foreground.  The  depicters  of  our 
English  scenery  can  scarcely  afford  to  overlook  the 
Bracken,  because  it  is  such  a  conspicuous  feature  in  all 


forest  scenes.  Mr.  Walter  Crane  understands  this,  and 
he  knows,  too — because  he  knows  the  New  Forest  so 
well — what  Bracken  can  be  in  that  rich  domain.  A 
sketch  of  his,  representing  yews  and  whitcbcams  in 
Sloden  (page  38),  will  not  be  without  its  especial  interest 
for  all  who  revere  and  love  the  majniificcnt  woodlands  of 


42 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Hampshire.  Those  who  may  be  tempted  to  wander  that 
way  may  Hke  to  know  that  they  will,  at  least,  find  (besides 

Pteris  aquilma),'m.  the 
New  Forest,  Osmunda 
regalis,  Lastrea  mo?i- 
tana,  Lastrea  dilatata, 
I  °  Lastrea  Jilix-t/ias,  and 
V  Lastrea  spinulosa,  Po- 
lystichum  aculeatum, 
and  Polystichuni  an- 
gidare,  Aspleniuni  adi- 
antxim  -  nigrum,  and 
the  Rue-leaved,  the 
Scaly,  and  the 
Common  Maidenhair 
Spleenworts,  the  Lady 
Fern,  the  Harts- 
tongue,  the  Common 
Polypody,  and  the 
Common  Adders- 
tongue. 

And  now,  dear  fern- 
hunter,  if  there  be 
one  thing  more  than 
another  that  will  stir 
your  enthusiasm,  per- 
haps it  will  be  the 
sight  of  a  wood  such 
as  the  one  on  page  44; 
for,  perhaps,  if  one 
place  be  more  fasci- 
nating for  the  fern- 
lover  than  another,  it 
is  the  shady,  the 
mysterious,  the  always 
delicious  depths  of  a  wood  when  the  summer  sunshine 
glints  through  the  trees,  bringing  up  into  fine  relief  the 


44 


Where  to  kind  ferns, 


contorted  arms  of  ancient  oaks,  on  whose  ample  forks 
the  Polypody  flaunts  its  golden  fruit,  and  under  whose 


friendly  shade,  in  the  darker  and  moister  angles  of  the 
woodland,  Bracken  and  Buckler  Fern  display  their 
graceful  forms. 


ON  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  FERNS. 


45 


IV. — On  the  Cultivation  of 
.  .  Ferns. 

HIS  chapter  is  intended  to  be  short 
and  simple  in  character.  Yet  it  is 
hoped  that  its  counsel  will  be  none 
the  less  useful  and  effectual. 

It  is  somewhat  rare,  the  Author 
believes,  to  find,  amongst  the 
numerous  valuable  and  useful  works 
that  deal  with  the  home  cultivation 
of  plants,  books  that  endeavour  to 
make  their  instructions  relate  to  the 
natural  conditions  under  which  the 
same  plants  were  found  growing  pre- 
viously to  what  may  be  called  their  domestication.  Yet 
most  of  our  methods  of  cultivation  are  but  adaptations  of 
natural  circumstances,  and, — at  least  in  the  case  of  ferns 
newly  gathered  from  their  native  habitats, — the  closer 
such  natural  circumstances  or  conditions  of  growth  are 
followed,  the  more  certain  will  be  the  success  of  the 
adapter  ;  for  it  is  ignorance  of  the  natural  habits  of 
ferns  that  leads  to  the  most  deplorable  failures  of  the 
growers  in  pots,  rockeries,  or  cases,  of  these  beautiful, 
graceful,  and  interesting  plants. 

Hence  a  careful  study  of  the  paragraphs  which  arc 
headed — under  the  name  of  each  fern,  described  in 
these  pages, — "  Habitats,"  will  throw  much  more  light 
on  the  subject  of  cultivation  than  the  most  elaborate 
but  merely  routine  directions  for  mixing  particular 
soils. 

The  natural  food  of  all  ferns  is  leaf-mould,  or  humus, 
which  is  the  aggregation  in  the  form  of  earth  of  decayed 
vegetable  matter.    This  is  a  fact  which  must  be  carefully 


46 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


borne  in  mind  in  considering  the  economy  of  fern 
life.  But  this  fern  food  must  be  supplied  under  certain 
essential  conditions.  There  must  be  moisture  and 
more  or  less  of  shade,  and,  with  regard  to  the  great 
majority  of  ferns,  this  moisture  must  be  supplied  in  a 
particular  way.  The  soil  which  contains  the  leaf-mould 
must  be  more  or  less  porous,  or  at  least  of  such  a  con- 
sistency that  no  stagnant  moisture  can  rest  about  the 
roots  of  the  ferns. 

If  these  general  circumstances  are  borne  in  mind, 
tliere  will  be  no  difficulty  in  understanding  what  follows, 
or  in  adapting  them  to  the  particular  needs  of  particular 
ferns  ;  and,  to  give  a  general  and  comprehensive  review 
of  the  subject,  we  will  take  the  ferns  in  the  order  in 
which  they  are  mentioned  in  the  succeeding  chapters  of 
this  volume,  dealing  with  them  singly  or  in  groups. 

The  Bracken  is  a  free-growing,  deeply-rooting  fern, 
flourishing  in  the  open  sunshine  where  the  soil  is  deep 
and  rich,  but  loving  most  the  shade  of  woods,  because, 
under  trees,  the  soil  is  both  richer  and  moister  than  u$)on 
forest  glades.  Hence  a  shady  or  half-shady  position 
upon  rich,  deep,  moist  soil  will  suit  this  handsome 
fern. 

In  its  wild  state  the  Hartstongue  is  so  bold  and  hardy 
that  it  will  grow  almost  anywhere,  but  it  especially  loves 
stony  habitats,  and  is  small  or  large  according  as  the 
stones  or  rocks  from  between  which  it  sends  up  its 
fronds  overlie  shallow  or  deep  masses  of  leafy  soil,  and 
are  exposed  to  sunshine  and  a  free  circulation  of  air,  or 
are  immersed  in  shade  in  a  moist  atmosphere.  Shaded 
rockery  over  deep  soil  is  the  best  position,  therefore,  for 
Hartstongues. 

The  Lady  Fern,  the  Hard  Fern,  and  the  Royal  Fern, 
though  sometimes  found  in  sunny  positions,  revel  most 
in  soil  that  is  soft,  spongy,  and  rich,  and  in  such 
positions  as  secure  to  them  shade  and  moist  air.  By 
fountains  or  running  water  will  suit  them  best  where 


ON  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  FERNS. 


47 


their  fronds  can  come  M'ithin  the  influence  of  the  spray, 
and  the  points  of  their  roots  touch  the  stream  witliout 
being  immersed  in  it. 

So  moist  is  both  the  actual  position, — adjacent  to 
oozing  or  trickUng  water, — and  the  atmosphere  surround- 
ing the  True  Maidenhair  and  the  Annual  Maidenhair,  that 
nothing  short  of  the  protection  of  glass  will  suffice  for  their 
successful  cultivation  ;  and  for  the  former  the  soil  should 
be  an  extemporisation  of  the  limestone  rock  and  leaf- 
mould  and  rocky  detritus,  out  of  and  in  which  the 
Maidenhair  naturally  grows,  whilst  for  the  latter  the 
imitation  of  the  soft,  rich  soil  of  its  native  shady  and 
dripping  hedge-bank  will  suit  it  best. 

Soft  leaf-soil  under  shady  rocks  best  pleases  the  Wild 
Parsley  Fern,  and  a  rockery  habitat  of  as  nearly  a  similar 
kind  as  possible  in  the  garden  will  meet  its  home  re- 
quirements. The  only  substitute  for  the  dark  and 
dripping  caverns,  and  the  moist  and  shaded  rocky 
crevices  where  the  Brisde  Fern  grows,  is  a  close  covering 
of  glass  that  excludes  the  outward  air,  and  rich,  sandy, 
leafy  soil ;  and  just  such  conditions  as  these  are  what 
the  Filmy  Ferns  require,  for  their  natural  haunts  are 
similar  to  those  of  Triclwmanes  i-adicans, 

Moonwort  and  Adders-tongue  seem  to  need  the  com- 
panionship, for  some  mysterious  reason,  of  grassy  roots, 
and,  therefore,  they  should  be  taken  up  from  their 
native  homes  with  the  grass  surrounding  them,  and  the 
attention  of  the  cultivator  must  be  directed  as  much  to 
the  grassy  accompaniments  as  to  the  ferns  themselves, 
that  they  may  be  kept  fresh  and  healthy. 

All  the  Polypodies  love  best  moist  leaf  soil,  amongst 
rocks ;  and  the  garden  rockery,  or  the  rockery  of  the  fern- 
case,  is  the  place  for  them. 

The  Shield  Ferns  confess  the  ferny  love  for  leaf-mould, 
but  they  like  to  toy  with  the  sunshine,  and  hence  they 
are,  perhaps,  of  all  ferns  placed  in  the  garden,  the  most 
hardy  and  bold,  for  they  will  thrive  almost  anywhere, 


48 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


and  survive  adverse  conditions  that  would  kill  many  oi 
their  congeners. 

Shady  rocks  with  leaf-soil,  too,  the  Bladder  Ferns  need 
in  their  wild  homes,  and  just  such  conditions  will  suit 
them  under  culture. 

The  same  may  be  said  of  the  Woodsias,  and  then 
we  come  to  the  Buckler  Ferns,  which  differ  amongst 
themselves  in  habit  and  character.  All  of  them  best 
like  the  shade,  and  a  rich,  porous  leaf-mould  soil,  but 
only  great  shade  and  moisture  will  suit  the  Crested  and 
Prickly-toothed  Ferns,  whilst  the  Marsh  Buckler  Fern 
must, grow  in  as  well  as  on  the  water. 

All  the  Spleenworts  are  rock-loving  ferns  ;  but  the 
Lanceolate  and  the  Sea  Spleenworts  cannot  grow,  out 
of  doors,  away  from  the  sea's  influence,  and,  hence, 
away  from  the  sea,  must  be  put  under  glass  as  the  only 
substitute  for  their  natural  condition.  The  Green 
Spleenwort  needs  similar  treatment,  to  extemporise  the 
state  of  saturation  of  the  atmosphere,  which  it  must 
have  for  preservation  in  health  and  vigour.  But  the 
rest  of  the  Spleenworts  will  grow  out  of  doors  on 
sheltered  rockery,  if  planted  firmly  and  carefully  in  the 
crevices  between  the  stones. 

Briefly  stated,  these  are  the  requirements  of  ferns 
grown  at  home. 


AVHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


49 


Plate  I. 

ROYAT,  Fern  [Osiinmaa  n-s^alis).    (Fertile  fronrl,) 


50 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


V. — The  Bracken. 
Pteris  oqnilina. 
(Plate  XL,  Fig.  i,  page  69.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  foot  to  twelve  feet,  ac- 
cording to  the  more  or  less  favourable  conditions  of 
growth.  The  maximum  and  n\inimum  lengths  given 
are  both  exceptional ;  for,  as  ordinarily  seen,  this  fern  is 
from  two  to  six  feet  long. 

GENER.A.L  Description. — Roots  few  in  number, 
fibrous,  but  somewhat  fleshy,  attached,  along  its  entire 
length,  to  the  rhizoma.  Rootstock,  a  rhizoma — brownish- 
black  in  colour,  soft,  and  thickly  covered  with  short 
hair — extending  itself  both  horizontally  and  perpen- 
dicularly ;  sometimes  penetrating  to  a  depth  of  more 
than  a  dozen  feet.  Fronds  deciduous,  ordinarily  tri- 
angular in  shape,  the  leafy  part  about  twice  the  length 
of  the  stipes  :  bipinnate  in  small  specimens  ;  tripinnate 
in  larger  ones.  The  tripinnate  may  be  said  to  be  the 
normal  form.  Pinnae,  placed  in  nearly  opposite  pairs 
along  the  rachis,  and  more  or  less  acutely  lance-shaped ; 
pinnules  acutely  lance-shaped,  pinnate  in  the  lower  part 
(of  tripinnate  fronds),  pinnatifid  higher  up,  and  more  or 
less  entire  at  the  frond  apex.  Lobes  oblong  and  blunt- 
pointed.  Towards  the  apex  of  the  frond  the  pinnules 
are  dwindled  to  mere  lobes  ;  nearer  it  the  pinnse  ai'e 
also  lobe-like,  and  a  lobe  terminates  the  frond.  Lobes 
concave  on  their  undersides.  Fructification  marginal, 
the  lines  of  spore-cases  being  enclosed  in  double 
indusia  formed  by  elongations  or  distensions  of  the 
cuticle  or  membranous  surface  of  the  lobes. 

Habitats. — Open  commons,  downs,  and  heaths ; 
glades ;  woods  ;  hillsides  and  streamsides ;  hedgcbanks 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS.  5 1 


rLATE  II. 


liROAp  BrCKi.r.R  Fi-rn  [f.aslira  dHatal^ 


52 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


and  fields  ;  islets  in  midstream.  The  Author  has  occa- 
sionally found  small  specimens  growing  on  the  damp 
sides  of  walls,  but  such  a  position  is  only  possible  for 
seedling  or  very  diminutive  specimens.  The  Bracken 
frequently  covers  large  spaces  of  ground,  which  it  ex- 
clusively occupies. 

Where  Found. — The  great  abundance  of  the  Bracken 
renders  it  unnecessary  to  give  a  detailed  list  of  the 
localities  in  which  it  grows.  The  published  records  of 
its  distribution,  given  in  the  second  and  revised  edi- 
tion (1883)  of  Mr.  Watson's  "Topographical  Botany," 
include  every  county  in  England,  Wales,  and  Scotland, 
except  Wigtonshire  and  West  Ross ;  but  it  is  possibly 
to  be  found  also  in  these  districts.  It  grows  at  various 
heights,  extending  to  two  thousand  feet  above  the  sea- 
level. 


VI. — The  Hartstongue. 
ScolopC7idriiim  vulgare. 
(Plate  VI.,  Fig.  i,  page  59.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Extremely  variable  :  a  couple  of 
inches  when  growing  on  hard,  dry  walls,  to  three  feet 
when  in  very  moist  and  congenial  positions.  Ordinary 
lengths  within  these  extremes. 

General  Description. — Roots  numerous,  fibrous 
and  somewhat  wiry.  Rootstock,  a  tufted  cormus,  the 
crown  of  which  is  raised  slightly  above  the  ground. 
Fronds  numerous,  evergreen,  produced  in  tufts,  tongue- 
shaped,  entire,  leathery  and  glossy,  each  stipes — about 
one-third  the  length  of  the  leafy  part — usually  covered 
by  rust-coloured  scales,  which  often  extend  along  the 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


I'l.ATi,  nr. 

P.I.ACK  MAIDF.NIIAIR  S  I'I.KKN  WORT  {Asplcltilim  adiaiitiim- 
iii);ni>ii),    (Upper  .nnd  Under  Sides.) 


54 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


under  sides  of  the  rachis.  Apex  of  leafy  part  more  or 
less  pointed ;  base,  heart-shaped  with  ear-shaped  pro- 
jections. Frudificatmi  produced  in  parallel  lines,  which 
run  obliquely  from  near  the  rachis  towards  the  leafy 
margins  on  either  side  of  the  rachis.  Each  apparent 
line  of  spore-cases  consists  in  reality  of  twin,  elongated 
sori  placed  side  by  side  and  confluent,  the  scaly 
indusium,  which  covers  the  whole,  splitting  along  the 
centre  when  the  spores  are  ripe,  and  disclosing  the 
densely-clustered,  rich-brown  spore-cases  underneath. 

Habitats. — Shady  parts  of  woods ;  the  bases,  sides, 
and  tops  of  hedgebanks.  This  species  is  oftentimes 
very  luxuriant  under  the  shelter  of  the  vegetation  of  the 
hedgetop,  where  it  grows  frequently  in  semi-darkness. 
It  grows  upon  banks  overhanging  streams ;  upon  rocks 
and  stonework,  including  walls  of  buildings  and  en- 
closures, bridge-arches,  ruins,  and  the  sides  of  old  wells  ; 
also  upon  cliffs  overhanging  the  sea,  always,  when  on 
stony  habitats  or  elsewhere,  most  luxuriant  where  water 
is  oozing  or  trickling  over  the  rocks,  or  ground,  on 
which  it  grows. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  all  the  counties.  In 
Wales,  in  the  counties  of  Anglesea,  Brecknock,  Caer- 
marthen,  Caernarvon,  Denbigh,  Flint,  Glamorgan,  and 
Pembroke.  In  the  Isle  of  Man.  In  Scotland,  in  the 
following  counties  : — Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr,  Benvick, 
Caithness,  Dumfries,  Inverness,  Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife, 
Forfar,  Kincardine,  Kirkcudbright,  Lanark,  Orkney  (in- 
cluding the  Shetland  Isles),  Perth,  Renfrew,  Roxburgh, 
Selkirk,  Stirling,  and  Sutherland.  Also  in  Cantyre 
and  the  Clyde  Isles.  In  h-eland,  in  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  and  in  the  Channel  Islands  throughout, — the 
moisture  of  the  climates  of  those  countries  inducing  a 
luxuriant  growth  of  this  species,  which  is  found  at  all 
elevations  up  to  six  hundred  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


Where  to  find  ferJjs. 


Plate  IV. 

Common  Poi.yi'ohv  {Polypodiumvuh^arc). 
(Upper  and  Under  Sides.) 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


VII.— The  Lady  Fern. 

Athyf'iuin  filix-foiinina. 
(Plate  VIII.,  Fig.  i,  page  63.) 

Length  of  Frond. — A  foot  to  five  feet,  according 
to  position  and  conditions  of  growth — largest  in  the  most 
moist  and  shady  places. 

General  Description.  —  Roots  fibrous,  abundant. 
Rootstock,  a  tufted  cormus,  its  crown  raised  slightly  above 
the  surface  of  the  ground.  Fronds  numerous,  deciduous, 
delicate,  brittle,  drooping,  produced  in  tufts.  Each 
stipes  usually  much  shorter  than  the  leafy  part,  and 
light  green  or  purplish  in  colour,  with  a  few  scales 
scattered  upon  it  near  the  base  ;  leafy  part  lance-shaped 
somewhat  broadly ;  bipinnate,  the  pinnse  narrowly 
lance-shaped  and  tapering,  and  placed  along  the  rachis 
alternately  or  in  opposite  pairs  ;  pinnules  blunt-pointed, 
oblong,  serrated,  or  indented — most  deeply  near  the  frond 
base,  less  deeply  higher  up.  Fruc/ificalion  produced  in 
double  rows  of  sori,  one  on  either  side  of  the  midvein  of 
each  pinnule,  each  row  of  sori  being  about  equidistant 
from  the  midvein  and  the  edge  of  the  pinnule.  The 
sori  are  covered  by  kidney-shaped  indusia,  which  burst 
and  fall  away  on  the  ripening  of  the  spores,  whose  cases 
are  then  light  brown  in  colour. 

Habitats. — The  dampest  and  shadiest  parts  of  woods, 
especially  luxuriant  where  water  oozes  over  gently-slojv 
ing  ground ;  hedgebanks,  in  shady  lanes ;  moist  and 
shady  crannies  of  rocks  ;  the  shady  margins  of  streams, 
and  the  sides  of  waterfalls. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Bedford,  Berks,  Buckingham,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Corn- 
wall, Cumberland,  Derby,    Devon,  Dorset,  Durham, 


WHERE  TO  FIND  KERNS. 


SoiT  I'KicKi.Y  SriifXD  Fern  {Polystkhnm  iWi^ida: c). 


WttERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Essex,  Gloucester,  Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle 
of  AVight),  Hereford,  Hertford,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Leices- 
ter, Lincoln,  Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk,  North- 
ampton, Northumberland,  Nottingham,  Oxford,  Rutland, 
Salop,  .Somerset,  Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  War- 
wick, AVestmoreland,  Wilts,  Worcester,  and  York.  In 
JVales,  in  the  counties  of  Anglesea,  Brecknock, 
Caermarthcn,  Caernarvon,  Cardigan,  Denbigh,  Flint, 
Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  Montgomery,  and  Pembroke. 
Specimens  have  also  been  found  in  Radnor.  In  the  Isle 
of  Man.  In  Scotland.,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen, 
Argyle,  Ayr,  Banff,  Berwick,  Bute,  Caithness,  Clack- 
mannan, Cromarty,  Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Edinburgh, 
Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar,  Haddington,  Inverness,  Kincardine, 
Kinross,  Kirkcudbright,  Lanark,  Linlithgow,  Nairn, 
Orkney,  Peebles,  Perth,  Renfrew,  Roxburgh,  Selkirk, 
Stirling,  and  Sutherland  ;  also  in  the  isles  of  Arran, 
Cantire,  Harris,  Islay,  Lewis,  and  North  Uist.  In 
Ireland,  in  the  counties  of  Antrim,  Clare,  Cork,  Dublin, 
Galway,  and  Kerry  ;  also  in  King's  County,  Kilkenn}', 
Killarney,  Limerick,  Louth,  Waterford,  and  Wicklow. 
In  the  Channel  Islands,  Jersey  and  Guernsey.  It  has 
been  found  growing  up  to  two  thousand  two  hundred 
feet  above  the  sea-level. 


VIIL— The  Hard  Fern. 
Blechnum  spicant. 

(Plate  VI.,  Figs.  4  and  5,  page  59.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Barren  fronds,  six  inches  to  two 
feet ;  fertile  fronds,,  a  foot  to  three  feet — according  to  the 
circumstances  of  growth. 

General  Descripiton. — Roots  wiry,  fibrous,  abun- 
dant.   Rootstock  somewhat  thick,  creeping,  and  in  time 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


59 


Plate  VL 

I.  IlAKTSTONGur:  [Scolopciulriiiin  vnli^arc)  (Upper' and  Under 
Side).  2.  IIAY-SCKNTKI)  BucKi.iCR  Fkrn  {l.aslrca  rccKiva) 
(Upper  Side).  3.  Ri,;ii)  IJucki.er  Fkkn  [r.aslrca  ri-rida) 
(Under  Side).  4.  IIaiu)  Fekn  (/ULr/iiui/ii  spicaiii)  (liarrcn 
Wond,  Upper  Side).  5.  llArn  Im.rn  {BU<hnum  sMcanl) 
F  rtile  iTond,  Under  Side). 


6o 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


forming  a  cluster  of  crowns  that  are  consequently 
attached  to  each  other,  the  crowns  being  raised  slightly 
above  the  ground.  Fronds  numerous,  leathery,  upper- 
sides  glossy,  produced  in  tufts,  and  of  two  kinds — barren 
and  fertile.  Barren  fronds  evergreen,  narrowly  lance- 
shaped,  tapering  at  both  ends,  pinnatifid — sometimes 
pinnate  in  their  lower  parts  ;  pinnae  narrowly  oblong, 
blunt-pointed,  attached  by  the  whole  widths  of  their 
bases  to  the  rachis,  produced  in  opposite  pairs  or  alter- 
nately along  on  each  side  of  the  rachis ;  stipes  reddish- 
brown,  smooth,  wiry,  from  one-fourth  to  one-seventh  the 
length  of  the  leafy  part.  Fertile  fronds  much  taller  than 
barren  ones,  deciduous ;  stipes  one-third  and  sometimes 
one-half  the  length  of  leafy  part ;  leafy  part  lance-shaped, 
distinctly  pinnate ;  pinnae  long,  narrow,  attenuated, 
drawn  out  to  a  point,  in  opposite  pairs  or  alternatel)- 
placed  along  the  rachis  and  curved  upwards.  Fructifi- 
cation on  fertile  fronds  only ;  sporangia  arranged  in 
double  lines,  one  on  each  side  of  midvein  of  each  pinna, 
at  first  distinct  from  each  other,  afterwards  becoming 
confluent,  and  densely  covering  the  under  sides  of  the 
pinnae.  The  sporangia  are  covered  by  elongated  indusia, 
which  burst,  when  the  spores  are  ripe,  on  the  sides  next 
the  midveins,  and,  when  thrown  back,  the  spore-cases 
present  a  dense,  rich-brown  mass,  ordinarily  hiding  the 
whole  of  the  under  sides  of  the  pinnae. 

Habitats. — Moist  slopes  of  woods;  damp,  stony 
■  crevices  on  hillsides  and  moorland  heights ;  stream- 
margins  ;  the  sides  and  bases  of  hedgebanks,  especially 
hedgebanks  partly  constructed  of  loose  stones ;  the 
stony  bases  of  roadside  hedges  ;  the  drier  parts  of  bogs 
and  marshland  ;  the  bases  of  clumps  of  shrubbery  in 
forest  and  woodland  glades,  and  moist  nooks  of  all 
kinds  of  rocks,  especially  in  the  lowest,  most  moist,  and 
shady  positions. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Bedford,  Berks,  Bucks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cornwall, 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


6i 


Pr.ATE  VII. 

I.  Mountain  Buckler  Fern  {Laslrea  monlaiia)  (Under 
Side).  2.  rRiCKr.Y-TOOTHED  BucKLER  Fern  {Lasln'a 
spinulosa)  (Under  Side). 

F  2 


62 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Dorset,  Durham,  Essex, 
Gloucester,  Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle  of  Wight), 
Hereford,  Hertford,  Kent,  Lancashire,  Leicester,  Lin- 
coln, Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk,  Northampton, 
Northumberland,  Nottingham,  Oxford,  Rutland,  Salop, 
Somerset,  Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  'Warwick, 
Westmoreland,  Wilts,  Worcester,  and  York.  In  JVa/es, 
in  the  counties  of  Anglesea,  Brecknock,  Caermarthen, 
Caernarvon,  Cardigan,  Denbigh,  Flint,  Glamorgan, 
Merioneth,  Pembroke,  and  Radnor.  In  the  Isle  of 
Man.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen,  Argyle, 
Ayr,  Banff,  Berwick,  Bute,  Caithness,  Clackmannan, 
Cromarty,  Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Edinburgh,  Elgin, 
Fife,  Forfar,  Haddington,  Inverness,  Kincardine,  Kinross, 
Kirkcudbright,  Lanark,  Linlithgow,  Nairn,  Orkney  (in- 
cluding the  Shetland  Isles),  Peebles,  Perth,  Renfrew, 
Ross,  Roxburgh,  Selkirk,  Stirling,  and  Sutherland ;  also 
in  the  Isles  of  Arran,  Cantyre,  Harris,  Islay,  Lewis,  and 
North  Uist.  In  Ireland,  in  the  counties  of  Antrim,  Clare, 
Cork,  Down,  Dublin,  and  Galway  (the  mainland  and  the 
Arran  Isles) ;  also  in  King's  County,  Limerick,  Mayo, 
Tipperary,  AVaterford,  and  Wicklow.  In  the  islands  of 
Jersey  and  Guernsey.  It  ascends  to  a  height  of  two 
thousand  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


IX. — The  Royal  Fern. 
Osmufida  7-egalis. 
(Plate  I.,  page  49.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Two  feet  to  twelve  feet, 
according  to  more  or  less  congenial  conditions  of 
growth ;  moist  peat  soil  and  a  boggy  situation  in  imme- 
diate contiguity  to  water  favouring  and  inducing  the 
larger  growths. 

General   Description. — Roots   numerous,  fibrous, 


WHERE  TO   FIND  FERNS. 


63 


Plate  VIII. 

Lady  Fkr>j  {Alhyrium  filix-famiua)  (Under  Side).  2.  Tuur 
MAlDKNirAiR     [Adiautunt     capillus-voicris)     (Under  Side) 

3.  Hoi.i.Y     Fern    {Polyslkhum     lonchilis)     (Uiiper  Side) 

4.  Holly  Fern  {Polystkhum  /ow/«//,f)  (Under  .Side). 


64 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


long,  and  wiry.  Rootstock,  a  thick,  tufted  cormus  ;  large, 
in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  plant,  and  prolonged 
into  a  visible,  prominent,  and  above-ground  stem,  raised 
sometimes  to  a  height  of  two  feet  in  large-sized,  mature 
plants.  The  rootstock  of  a  fern,  even  when  not  con- 
spicuously raised  above  the  soil,  is  really  its  stem, 
although  it  does  not,  in  such  cases,  convey  the  popular 
idea  of  one.  The  stem  of  Osvnmda  regalis  really 
becomes,  when  of  large  size,  a  tnuik,  and  thus  more 
nearly  than  any  otlier  British  species  approaches  the 
form  and  character  of  a  tree-fern.  F7-onds  of  two  kinds 
• — barren  and  fertile — not  very  numerous,  deciduous, 
robust-looking,  golden  green,  broadly  lance-shaped;  very 
distinctly  bipinnate,  pinna:  lance-shaped,  usually  placed 
in  opposite  pairs,  though  sometimes  alternately,  upon 
the  rachis ;  pinnules  an  inch,  more  or  less,  in  length, 
oblong,  blunt-pointed,  in  opposite  pairs  or  alternately 
placed  upon  the  secondary  rachides  or  midstems  of  the 
pinn£E.  In  the  fertile  fronds  the  upper  pinn^  of  the 
fronds  have  their  pinnules  contracted  to  bear  the  spores. 
Stipes  about  as  long  as  the  leafy  part.  Friictificaiion 
usually,  but  not  always,  confined  to  the  upper  parts  of 
the  fertile  fronds,  where  the  pinnules  are  contracted  and 
bear  the  globular  spore-cases  densely  crowded  upon 
their  under  sides — so  much  so  frequently,  that  the 
pinnules  appear  like  spikes  of  inflorescence  of  a  rich, 
yellowish-brown  colour. 

Habitats. — Banks  of  rivers  and  lakes,  especially  in 
positions  close  enough  to  the  stream-edge  to  allow  of 
the  roots  touching  the  water ;  marshy  and  boggy  places, 
especially  where  the  soil  consists  largely  of  peat ;  low- 
lying  islets,  which  are  sometimes  covered  densely  by 
little  else  than  plants  of  this  species  ;  damp,  low-lying 
parts  of  woods ;  the  low-lying  parts  of  moorlands  ujjon 
ground  made  marshy  by  the  oozing  of  water  from  the 
heights  above  ;  damp  meadows  and  fens,  or  other  peaty 
places  periodically  submerged. 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


^'5 


Plate  IX. 


I.  EuROi-r.AN  Bristle  Ff.kn  {'J'richomancs  radimns)  (Upper 
Side).  2.  Limestone  Polypody  {Polypodiiim  ,nliarciiiit) 
(Under  Side).  3.  Tiirek-isranched  Polypody  {I'olypoi.'iiim 
dryoftcris)  (Under  Side).  4.  MOUNTAIN  POLYPODY  [Poly- 
fodiuiii  phcffo/)le}-is)  (Under  Side). 


66 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Bedford,  Berks,  Bucks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cornwall, 
Cumberland,  Devon,  Dorset  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle 
of  Purbeck),  Durham,  Essex,  Hants  (the  mainland  and  the 
Isle  of  Wight),  Hereford,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Leicester,  Lin- 
coln, Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk,  Northumberland, 
Nottingham,  Oxford,  Rutland,  Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford, 
Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmoreland,  Wilts, 
^Vorcester,  and  York.  In  JFa/es,  in  the  counties  of 
Anglesea,  Brecknock,  Caermarthen,  Caernarvon,  Den- 
bigh, Flint,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  and  Pembroke. 
In  the  Isle  of  Man.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of 
Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Clack- 
mannan, Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Fife,  Forfar,  Had- 
dington, Kincardine,  Kirkcudbright,  Lanark,  Linlithgow, 
Orkney  (including  the  Shetland  Isles),  Perth,  Renfrew, 
Ross,  Stirling,  Sutherland,  and  Wigton.  In  the  isles 
of  Arran,  Bute,  Harris,  Islay,  Lewis,  Mull,  and  North 
Uist.  In  Ireland,  in  the  counties  of  Clare,  Cork, 
Donegal,  Dublin,  Galway,  and  Kerry ;  also  in  King's 
County,  Mayo,  Tipperary,  Waterford,  and  Wicklow. 
In  Jersey.  Osnuinda  rcgalis  grows  at  various  altitudes 
up  to  a  thousand  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


X. — The  True  Maidenhair. 

Adianttini  capilJus  -7'cnci'is. 
(Plate  VIII.,  Fig.  2,  page  63.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Six  inches  to  two  feet,  according 
to  position  and  other  circumstances  of  growth ;  but  the 
maximum  length  given  is  exceptional. 

General  Descripj'ion. — Roots  black,  fibrous,  some- 
what fleshy.  Rootstock,  a  creeping  rhizoma,  slender, 
covered  with  black  scales,  and  extending  itself  along  the 


WHERE  TO  KIND  FERNS. 


67 


Plate  X. 

I.  Marsh  Buckler  Fern  {Lastrea  Ihdyplais)  (Barren  Frond, 
Upper  Side).  2.  ]5rittle  Bladder  Fern  [Cys/opt<:ns 
friigilis)  (Under  Side).  3.  Mountain  Bladder  Fern 
{.Cysloftcris  vwnlana)  (Upper  Side).  4.  Sea  Si'LEENWOrt 
(Asplciiiiim  marinuiii)  (Upper  Side).  5.  Sea  SrLEENW0R7* 
{AspLiiiuin  maniiiini)  (Under  Side). 


'68 


WHERE  TO  KIND  FERNS. 


surface  of  the  rock  or  soil  upon  which  the  plant  is  grow- 
ing— the  roots  underneath  holding  it  in  position.  Fronds 
triangular,  numerous,  evergreen,  delicate,  usually  tripin- 
nate,  but  sometimes  only  bipinnate.  In  the  tripinnate 
fronds  the  pinnse  are  mostly  triangular,  but  are  some- 
times variously  shaped,  and  are  divided  into  pinnules, 
which,  near  the  bases  of  the  pinnse,  are  again  divided 
into  distinctly-stalked,  fan-shaped,  more  or  less  cleft  or 
indented,  lobes.  Towards  the  apices  of  such  divided 
pinnae  the  pinnules  are  not  again  divided,  but  are  simply 
stalked  and  indented.  In  all  compound  ferns  there  is 
always  less  division,  both  of  fronds,  pinnse,  and  pinnules, 
towards  the  apex  of  each  frond,  pinna  and  pinnule. 
Stipes,  usually  about  the  same  length  as  the  leafy  part, 
purplish  black,  smooth,  and  shining.  Rachis  and 
secondary  rachides  purplish  black,  shining,  and  hairlike. 
Fructification  marginal,  produced  at  the  outer  and  upper 
edges  of  the  under  sides  of  the  fertile  lobes,  and  consist- 
ing of  oblong  sori,  covered  by  indusia  formed  by  the 
reflexed  and  blanched  margins  of  the  lobes. 

Habitats. — Cliffs  at  or  near  the  sea-coast— seldom 
inland.  The  moist  hollows  and  crannies  of  limestone 
rocks  are  the  favourite  habitats  of  this  species.  It 
should  be  looked  for  in  sea-caverns;  under  rocky  ledges 
or  spurs  ;  in  semi-dark  crevices,  and  behind  or  under 
the  shadow  of  cliffside  bushes  or  scrub.  Very  often  it 
is  completely  hidden  by  a  screen  of  bushes  or  other 
vegetation  on  the  face  of  rocks — in  such  positions 
growing  almost  in  darkness.  Frequently  it  grows  on 
inaccessible  parts  of  steep  cliffs  ;  but  whenever  rocks 
are  searched  for  specimens,  those  especial  nooks 
moistened  by  oozing  or  tiickling  streams  of  water,  flow- 
ing down  or  along  the  rocky  surface,  should  be  carefully 
examined. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
■Cornwall,  Devon,  Dorset,  .Salop,  and  Somerset  only ; 
the  particular  localities  in  those  counties  being  tlie  fol- 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


69 


Plate  XT. 

I.  Brack?:n  (Ptt'i-is  a<iuilina)  (Upper  PcTtion  of  Frond,  Upper 
Side).  2.  MooNVVOKT  (Jhhychiii/ii  liiuaria).  3.  Adders- 
lONGiJE  {Ophioi^lonsum  vuli^aliini).  4.  Ln  ri.F,  Addicrs-tongue 
( Ophioqlosstiiii  Itisilanicum), 


70 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


lowing  :  in  Cornwall,  on  cliffs  at  Carclew,  at  Carrick 
Gladden  (on  the  sea-coast  between  Hayle  and  St.  Ives), 
and  upon  cliffs  at  Penzance;  in  Devonshire,  near 
Brixham  (upon  the  limestone  rocks  of  Mewstone  Bay), 
on  cliffs  at  Ilfracombe,  and  also  at  Watermouth,  near 
Ilfracombe  ;  in  Shropshire,  at  Titherston  Clee  Hill ;  in 
Somersetshire,  on  the  Cheddar  Cliffs  and  on  the  coast  at 
Clevedon.  In  IVales,  in  the  county  of  Glamorgan,  on 
the  coast  at  Dunraven,  on  Barry  Island,  at  East 
Aberthaw,  and  at  Port  Kirig.  In  the  Isle  of  Man, 
between  Douglas  and  Peel,  and  in  Glen  Meay.  In 
Scotlatid,  in  the  county  of  Kincardine,  on  the  banks  of 
the  river  Carron.  In  Irela7id,  in  the  counties  of  Clare, 
Gal  way,  and  Kerry  :  in  the  first-named  county  at  Bally- 
vaughan,  or  between  that  place  and  Gremlin  Point ;  in 
Kerry,  at  Cahir  Conree  near  Tralee  ;  and  in  Galway,  at 
Lough  Bulard,  near  Urrisberg,  and  at  Roundstone, 
Connemara :  also  in  the  Arran  Isles.  On  cliffs  in 
Jersey  and  Guernsey  Adiantiivi  capiUus-veneris  has  also 
been  found. 


XI, — The  Annual  Maidenhair. 
Gymnogravnna  kptophylla. 
(Plate  XII.,  Figs.  3  and  4,  page  71.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Three  to  nine  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  fibrous.  Rootstalk 
small,  tufted.  Fronds  annual,  deciduous  ;  stipes  from 
one-third  to  one-half  the  length  of  leafy  part,  dark 
brown  at  the  base  and  green  above  ;  the  first  fronds 
shorter  than  the  later  ones  and  simply  pinnate,  the 
pinnae  borne  on  short  stalks  alternately  on  each  side  of 
the  rachis — fan-shaped  and  indented.    The  taller  and 


WHERK  TO   FIND  KERNS.  7 1 


Plate  XII. 


I.  Hard  Prickly  Shield  F'ern  [rolystichum  aculeatum) 
(Upper  Side).  2.  Alpine  Bladder  1''ern  {Cysloplcris  rcgia) 
(Under  Side).  3.  Annual  Maidk.niiair  {Gyiiiuoi^raiiniia 
leplophylla)  (Upiier  Side).  4.  Annual  Maidenhair  (Gj7«;/o- 
jiramma  kptophylla)  (Under  Side).  5.  Parsley  Imcrn  {Alio- 
sonts  crispus)  (liarren  I'Vond).  6.  I'arsi.ey  1'"ern  (Allosoi-iis 
(rispus)  (Fertile  Frond). 


72 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


later  fronds  bipinnate,  sometimes  tripinnate,  the  pinnre 
ovate  and  alternate,  and  bearing  fan-shaped,  indented, 
alternate  pinnules.  The  shape  of  the  pinnules  very- 
much  resembles  that  of  the  lobes  of  the  True  Maiden- 
hair. Frtictification  non-indusiate,  consisting  of  sori 
arranged  in  lines  at  the  backs  of  the  pinnules,  but  often 
becoming  confluent. 

Habitats. — The  most  shady  and  sheltered  sides  of 
hedgebanks.  It  grows  oftentimes  amongst  other  dwarf 
vegetation,  especially  in  places  where  water  trickles  or 
oozes  over  the  banks. 

Where  Found. — No  reliable  evidence  has  been  pro- 
duced as  to  the  finding  of  this  little  fern  in  any  other 
part  of  the  British  Islands  than  Jersey,  in  some  localities 
of  which — such  as  St.  Aubin,  St.  Haule,  and  St. 
Laurence — it  grows  in  abundance.  But  it  is  quite 
possible,  we  think,  that  diligent  search  might  lead  to 
this  pretty  little  fern  being  found  somewhere  along  the 
south  coast  of  England. 


XII. — The  Mountain  Parsley  Fern. 
Allosorus  crispus. 
(Plate  XII.,  Figs.  5  and  6,  page  71.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Barren  fronds  four  to  eight 
inches;  fertile  fronds  six  to  twelve  inches,  according  to 
more  or  less  congenial  conditions  of  growth. 

General  Description. — Roots  numerous,  fibrous, 
wiry,  often  matted  into  a  dense  mass.  Rootstock  thick, 
tufted,  often  elongating  into  numerous  crowns.  Fronds  of 
two  kinds,  both  produced  in  dense,  tufted  clusters.  Barren 
fronds,  bright  green,  triangular,  bipinnate,  and  sometimes 
tripinnate;  pinnai  triangular,  opposite  or  alternate;  pin- 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS.  73- 


Pl.ATK  XIII. 


I.  Al.riNE  I'OLVF'ODY  (Polypodiiiiii  alpcslrc)  (Upper  Side).  2. 
Lanceolait.  Si'leenvvor'I'  [Asplciiiiiiii  lauccolaliim)  (Uppei' 
Side).  3.  Lanceolate  Si'I.eenwori'  {Asplcniiiui  lancco/a/nni) 
(Under  Side).    4.  Scaly  Si'LEENWoui'  (Asplcniinii  cclcmch) 

5.  Scaly  Spleenwort  (Aspkiiinni    cc/crafh)  (Under  Side). 

6.  Rock  Spleenwort  {Asplcnium  fonlamim)  (Upper  .Side). 

7.  Rock  Spleenwort  (Asplciiuim  foii/aniint)  (Under  Side). 

8.  Rue-leaved  Spleenwort  {Asplcniuin  rtila-inuiaria) 
(Upper  Side).  9.  Rue-lea\'EI)  SpleI'.nwort  {Asplmiiiin 
rit/a-iiiiiraria)  (Under  Side). 


74  WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 

miles  wedge-shaped,  alternate  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
secondary  rachides  ;  lobes — in  the  tripinnate  form — 
club-shaped  or  wedge-shaped,  and  indented  upon  their 
margins  ;  stipes  about  equal  in  length  to  the  leafy  part, 
green,  and  brittle.  Fertile  fronds  are  similar  in  general 
arrangement  of  parts  to  barren  fronds,  but  the  ultimate 
divisions  are  contracted  into  oblong,  rounded,  spore- 
bearing  lobes.  The  stipes  of  each  fertile  frond  is 
frequently  three  times  as  long  as  the  leafy  part.  Fructi- 
Scation  borne  upon  the  whole  of  the  under  sides  of  the 
Sobes  of  the  fertile  fronds,  the  edges  of  which  are  rolled 
under  so  far  as  to  meet,  thus  enclosing  the  spore-cases 
in  simple  indusia  and  giving  a  rounded  form  to  each 
lobe.  When  ripe  the  lobes  and  their  contents  turn 
fcrown  and  open  to  allow  of  the  escape  of  the  spores. 

Habitats. — Moist  crevices  of  rocks  ;  spaces  between 
loose  stones  upon  hillsides — Allosorns  crispiis  sometime:?, 
in  such  positions  growing  in  great  abundance.  So 
ihickly  are  plants  of  this  species  often  clustered  that 
Sliey  have  obtained  the  common  name  of  "  Rock 
Brakes." 

AVhere  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Chester,  Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Durham,  Here- 
ford, Lancaster,  Northumberland,  Salop,  Somerset, 
Westmoreland,  Worcester,  and  York.  In  JVa/es,  in  the 
counties  of  Anglesea,  Caernarvon,  Cardigan,  Denbigh, 
Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  Montgomery,  and  Radnor.  In 
the  Isle  of  Man.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of 
Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Dum- 
barton, Dumfries,  Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar,  Inverness,  Kin- 
cardine, Kinross,  Kirkcudbright,  Lanark,  Peebles,  Perth, 
Renfrew,  Ross,  Roxburgh,  Selkirk,  Stirling,  and  Suther- 
land. In  the  isles  of  Arran,  Harris,  Mull,  and  Skye. 
In  Ireland,  only  in  the  counties  of  Antrim,  Clare, 
Down,  and  Louth.  In  these  four  counties  the  localities 
are  believed  to  be  very  few  in  which  Allosorus  crisptis 
lias  been  found.  They  are  as  follows: — In  Antrim,  at 
Carrickfergus ;  in  Clare,  at  Blackhead;  in  Downshire, 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS.  7$ 


I'l.AlE  XIV. 


I.  Crested  Buckler  Fern  (Lastrca  cns/a/a]  (Upper  Side) 
2.  Common  Maidenhair  Spleenwort  (Aspkninm  triclio- 
viancs)  (Upper  Side).  3.  Common  Maidenhair  Spi.een- 
VVORT  {Aspleiiiiiin  Irklioinancs)  (Under  Side).  4.  tjUF.EN 
Spi.eenwort  (AspkniuiH  viride)  (Upper  Side).  5.  Green 
Spleenwort  {Asplcniinn  viride)  (Under  Side).  6.  Alternate 
Spleenwort  {Aspknitim  ;rcnnaiikuiJi)  (Upper  Side).  7. 
Alterna'ie  Spleenwort  (Asp/eitinm  f;a-!iiatiictiiii)  (Under 
Side).  8.  Forked  Spleenwort  {Aspkniimi  scplcntrionnic) 
(Upper  Side).  9.  Forked  Spleenwort  {Asp/ciiiimi  sep- 
tenli  ionale)  (Under  Side). 

G 

1 


76  WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 

at  Sleive  Bignian  and  on  the  Mourne  Mountains; 
and  in  Louth,  on  the  Carlingford  Mountains.  It  grows  at 
heights  reaching  to  three  thousand  five  hundred  feet 
above  the  sea-level. 


XIII. — The  Bristle  I'ern. 

Trichomanes  radicans. 

(Plate  IX.,  Fig.  i,  page  65.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Six  inches  to  a  foot  and  a  half 
General  Description.  — Roots  fibrous,  blackish, 
woolly,  and  numerous.  Rooistock,  a  creej^ing  rhizoma — 
black  and  covered  with  scales — that  extends  itself  along 
upon  the  surface  of  the  rocks  upon  which  it  is  found 
growing.  Fronds  evergreen,  triangular,  tripinnate ;  stipes 
—about  equal  in  length  to  the  leafy  part  or  less — purplish 
black,  as  also  are  the  rachides.  Pinnje  triangular  and 
alternate  upon  the  rachis ;  pinnules  ovate  or  lance- 
shaped,  alternate  upon  the  secondary  rachides — lobes 
irregularly-shaped,  but  somewhat  oblong,  alternate,  and 
deeply  incised  or  serrated.  Leafy,  narrow  wings  run  along 
on  either  side  of  the  stipes,  rachis,  and  secondary  rachides. 
General  character  of  the  leafy  texture  of  the  frond  pellucid. 
Fructification  in  urn-shaped  receptacles  produced  near 
the  ends  of  veins  projected — bristle-like — beyond  the 
lobe-margins,  and  through  and  beyond  the  urn-shaped 
receptacles. 

Habitats. — The  wet  sides  of  rocks  and  caves  where 
the  most  absolute  shade  prevails  and  the  air  is  laden 
with  reeking  moisture.  Such  habitats  are  essential  to 
the  very  life  of  this  beautiful  fern,  whose  pellucid  texture 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


77 


Plate  XV. 


I.  Male  Perm  {Lasln-a  fdix-mas)  (Under  Side).  2.  Ohlong 
WooDsiA  U^oc/sia  ilvciisis)  (Upper  .Side).  3.  Odlong 
\yc,o\^^\K[lVoodsia  ilveiisis)  (Under  .Side).  4.  Alpine  Woodsia 
\mmlsia  «//;;/«)  (Under  Side).  5.  TuNiiiuDGic  Filmv  Imcun 
KHyi'icnophyll,!,,!  I,tnbridi;ciist).  6.  OnE-SIDED  Imlmy  Fern 
KHyincnopliylluin  unilateralc). 

G  2 


78 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


would  shrivel  up  under  die  effects  of  sunshine  or  of  a 
dry  atmosphere. 

Where  Found. — No  locality  in  either  England  or 
Scotland  is  at  present  generally  known  to  possess  this 
fern,  although  it  is  said  to  have  been  found  in  Cornwall 
and  West  Yorkshire,  in  Arran  and  Argyle.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  it  grows  abundantly  in  one  part  of  North 
Wales  (Merioneth  is  the  county  which  has  been  named), 
but  the  locality  is  only  known  to  a  few  persons,  who 
have  kept  its  whereabouts  a  profound  secret.  In  Ire- 
land, it  has  been  found  in  the  counties  of  Cork,  Kerry, 
Limerick,  Waterford,  and  AVicklow;  and  in  the  following 
localities :  in  Cork  county,  in  Glendine  wood ;  near 
Youghal,  at  Glenbour  and  Killeagh  ;  on  rocks  near 
Bandon;  on  rocks  at  Ballinasy  Glen  and  Temple  Michael 
Glen  near  Cork ;  at  the  Clashgariffe  Fall ;  on  rocks  near 
Glandore,  and  also  near  Bantry ;  and  on  rocks  on  Carri- 
geena  Kildorrery  in  the  north  of  Cork.  In  Kerr}-  Count}-, 
on  the  Tork  Mountains  and  at  the  Tork  AA'aterfall : 
amongst  the  Cromaglaun  Mountains ;  at  Glengariff  in 
Valentia  Island ;  near  Dingle  (on  Mount  Eagle)  ;  at 
Gortgaree,  between  Killarney  and  Kenmare ;  at  Black- 
stones,  in  Glouin  Caragh ;  and  at  Inveragh  and  Curaan 
Lake,  Waterville.  In  County  Limerick,  amongst  the 
Cumailte  Mountains.  In  County  Waterford,  along  the 
Blackwater  Valley;  and  in  Wicklow  County,  at  Powers- 
court  Waterfall  and  in  Hermitage  Glen.  In  some  of 
these  localities — the  mountainous  ones — it  has  been 
found  growing  at  a  height  of  fifteen  hundred  feet  above 
the  sea-level. 


THE  .MOON WORT. 


79 


XIV.  — T  HE    M  O  O  N  W  O  R  T. 

BotrycJiiiDii  I  una  via. 
(Plate  XL,  Fig.  2,  page  69.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Two  to  ten  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  few  in  number,  thick, 
and  fleshy.  Rootstock  fleshy,  small,  elongated,  erect 
growing,  tuberous.  Fronds  of  two  parts  barren  and 
fertile :  the  one  leafy,  the  other  spore-bearing.  A  com- 
mon stipes  supports  both  from  the  base  to  about  midway 
on  the  frond  where  the  leafy  portion  diverges.  It  consists 
of  a  single,  somewhat  bluntly  lance-shaped  pinna,  with 
pairs  of  opposite  or  alternate,  crescent-shaped,  fan-shaped, 
or  half-moon-shaped  pinnules.  ^The  stipes,  or,  strictly 
speaking,  the  rachis,  continuing  upwards  and  beyond 
the  leafy  pinna,  termmates  in  a  single,  branched  cluster 
of  spore-cases.  Fructification — the  fruitful  part  of  the 
frond  is  simply  pinnate  or  bipinnate,  the  branches  alter- 
nate and  again  alternately  branched  in  its  lower  part, 
each  branch  bearing  a  small  cluster  of  globular  spore- 
cases,  which  at  the  season  of  ripening  turn  from  the 
incipient  green  to  a  golden-brown  colour. 

Haijitats. — The  open  face  of  heaths,  damp  meadows, 
and  moors,  amongst  grass  on  spots  somewhat  elevated 
but  not  extremely  damp. 

Where  Found.^ — In  England,  in  the  counties  of  Bed- 
ford, Bucks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cornwall,  Cumberland, 
Derby,  Devon,  Dorset,  Durham,  Essex,  Gloucester, 
Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle  of  Wight),  LIcreford, 
Kent,  Lancaster,  Leicester,  Lincoln,  Monmouth, Norfolk, 
Northampton,  Northumberland,  Nottingham,  Oxford, 
Rutland,  Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey, 
Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmoreland,  ^Vilts,  AVorccstcr,  and 


So 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


York.  In  Wales,  in  the  counties  of  Anglesea,  Caer- 
marthen,  Caernarvon,  Denbigli,  Flint,  Glamorgan, 
Merioneth,  Montgomery,  Pembroke,  and  Radnor.  In  the 
Isle  of  Man.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen, 
Argyle,  Ayr,  Banff,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Clackmannan, 
Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar, 
Haddington,  Inverness,  Kincardine,  Kinross,  Kirkcud- 
bright, Lanark,  Linlithgow,  Nairn,  Orkney  (including 
Shetland),  Perth,  Renfrew,  Ross,  Roxburgh,  Selkirk, 
Stirling,  and  Wigton  :  also  in  the  islands  of  Bute  and 
Skye.  In  Ireland,  in  the  counties  of  Antrim,  Cork,, 
Down,  Galway,  Londonderry,  and  Wicklow.  It  is  found 
at  various  heights  up  to  two  thousand  seven  hundred! 
feet  above  the  sea-level. 


XV.  — The  Adders-tongue. 
OpJiioglossiini  vnlga/i/i/i. 
(Plate  XL,  Fig.  3,  page  69.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Three  to  twelve  inches,  the 
maximum  length  given  being  exceptional. 

General  Description. — Roots  k\\  in  nunnber,  brittle, 
thick,  fleshy.  Rootstock  erect,  elongated,  fleshy,  small  in 
size.  Fronds  of  two  parts,  barren  and  fertile,  having  a 
common  stipes — the  barren  part  a  single,  oval-shaped, 
entire  pinna  (equal  in  size  to  the  circumference  of  a  hen's 
egg),  the  base  of  which  forms  the  top  of  the  sheath  that 
constitutes  the  upper  part  of  the  stipes  and  clasps  the 
lower  part  of  the  stem  of  the  fertile  portion  of  the  frond. 
Fructification  produced  in  small  globular  spore-cases 
arranged  in  two  lines,  on  opposite  sides  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  fruitful  branch  of  the  frond,  which  thus, 
becomes  a  terminal  spike  of  fructification. 


THE  LITTLE  ADDERS-TONGUE. 


8i 


Habitats. — Heaths,  moors,  pastures,  amongst  grass- 
roots in  loamy  soil,  and  in  damp  positions. 

Where  Found. — In  England^  in  the  counties  of  Bed- 
ford, Berks,  Bucks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cornwall,  Cum- 
berland, Derby,  Devon,  Dorset,  Durham,  Essex,  Glouces- 
ter, Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle  of  Wight),  Here- 
ford, Hertford,  Huntingdon,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Leicester, 
Lincoln,  Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk,  Northampton, 
Northumberland,  Nottingham,  Oxford,  Salop,  Somerset, 
Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmore- 
land, Wilts,  Worcester,  and  York.  In  Wales,  in  the 
counties  of  Anglesea,  Caernarvon,  Denbigh,  Flint,  Gla- 
morgan, Pembroke,  and  Radnor.  In  Scotland,  in  the 
counties  of  Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr,  Berwick,  Clack- 
mannan, Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar,  Haddington, 
Kincardine,  Kinross,  Kirkcudbright,  Lanark,  Linlithgow, 
Orkney  (including  Shetland),  Perth,  Renfrew,  Selkirk, 
and  Stirling.  In  Ireland,  in  the  counties  of  Antrim, 
Armagh,  Cork,  Dublin,  Galway,  and  Tipperary.  It  is 
found  growing  at  various  lieights  up  to  a  thousand  feet 
above  the  sea-level. 


XVI. — The  Little  Adders-tongue. 
Ophioglossuin  lusitanicuvi. 
(Plate  XL,  Fig.  4,  page  69.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Two  to  four  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  few  in  number,  fleshy, 
brittle,  Rootstock  small,  upright  in  growth,  fleshy,  tube- 
rous, elongated.  Fronds  of  two  parts,  barren  and  fruit- 
ful, consisting,  upon  a  common  stipes,  of  a  single 
narrow,  entire,  somewhat  grass-like,  barren  pinna,  and  of 
a  taller  branch  forming  a  stem  in  continuation  of  the 


82 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


stipes,  and  bearing  at  the  upper  end  the  fruitful  spike. 
There  is  a  single  barren  frond  (though  sometimes  there 
may  be  two  barren  fronds  on  the  same  plant)  and  a  single 
fruitful  branch,  as  in  the  case  of  Ophioglossum  indgainm, 
to  which  fern  the  present  species  bears  a  general,  though 
diminutive,  resemblance.  Fructification  —  the  fruitful 
spike,  pointed  at  the  end,  consists  of  two  rows,  one  on 
each  side  of  the  rachis,  of  rounded  spore-cases — each 
row  consisting,  usually,  of  about  five  or  six  of  these 
cases. 

Habitats. — Damp  positions  on  heaths  and  on  open 
pastures,  amongst  grass-roots. 

Where  Found. — The  only  locality  generally  known 
is  the  Island  of  Guernsey,  where,  in  1854,  it  was  first 
discovered  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Petit  Bot  Bay.  It 
is  said  to  have  been  found  in  Cornwall,  and  it  is  quite 
possible  that,  owing  to  its  inconspicuousness,  it  may 
abound  in  many  parts  of  the  British  Isles  without  having 
been  discovered. 


XVII. — The  Common  Polypody. 
Polypodiuiii  inilgare. 
(Plate  IV.,  page  55.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Two  or  three  inches  to  two  feet 
and  a  half,  according  to  position  and  circumstances  of 
growth— the  maximum  length  given  being,  however, 
very  exceptional,  though  fronds  of  that  length  have  been 
found  by  the  Author.  The  average  size  of  specimens  is 
given  in  most  descriptions  of  ferns  at  from  six  to 
eighteen  inches — the  specimens  commonly  encountered 
being  seldom  more  than  a  foot  in  length. 

General   Description. — Roots   abundant,  fibrous. 


THE  COMMON  POLYPODY. 


83 


Rootstock,  a  hairy  or  scaly  rhizoma,  which  branches  and 
creeps  in  various  directions  upon  the  surface  of  the  rock, 
wall,  or  soil  in  which  the  plant  is  growing,  producing 
fronds  from  numerous  points  of  its  upper  side.  Fro7ids 
evergreen,  numerous,  deeply  pinnatifid,  of  a  somewhat 
elongated  egg-shape,  pointed  at  the  apex,  and  divided 
into  long,  blunt-pointed,  entire  pinnje,  an  inch  or  more 
in  length — each  resembling  somewhat  the  finger  of  the 
hand — with  deep  wide  clefts  between  each.  Stipes  of 
varying  length,  green,  smooth,  brittle,  sometimes  as  long 
as,  sometimes  shorter  than,  and  often  much  longer  than, 
the  leafy  part.  Fnictificatioii  usually  confined  to  the 
upper  portion  of  the  undersides  of  the  pinnae,  consisting 
of  two  rows  of  non-indusiate,  rounded  sori,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  midvein  of  each  pinna,  generally  crowded, 
and  sometimes  becoming  confluent.  AVhen  ripened,  the 
sporangia  turn  to  a  rich  orange,  or  brown,  colour. 

Habitats. — The  tops  and  sides  of  rocks  and  walls.  It 
is  especially  luxuriant  where  moist  seams  of  earth,  lying 
in  shaded  positions,  afford  abundant  root-room,  and  it  is 
oftentimes  much  stunted  and  diminutive  on  the  drier, 
exposed,  and  sunny  faces  of  rocks  and  walls.  Old  walls 
falling  into  ruin  are  always  found  to  have  accumulated 
soil  between  their  loose  stones.  Should  trees  be  growing 
around,  this  accretion  of  soil  will  be  largely  composed 
of  leaf-mould,  and  upon  the  shadowy  sides  of  such  walls 
all  rock  or  wall-growing  ferns  will  be  found  in  the 
greatest  state  of  vigour  and  luxuriance.  The  Common 
Polypody  grows  also  in  the  forks  of  old  trees  where  leaf- 
mould  has  accumulated;  upon  tree-stumps  raised  above, 
or  almost  level  with,  the  ground;  in  the  sides  and  upon 
the  tops  of  hcdgebanks,  amongst  loose  stones,  or  in  the 
stumps,  trunks,  forks,  or  hollows  of  trees  growing 
in  hcdgebanks.  Pollard-trees  in  hcdgebanks  afford 
favourite  habitats  of  this  fern.  Old  bridge-arches,  and 
indeed  all  old  or  decaying  stonework,  are,  similarly, 
favourable  positions  for  Polypodium  viilgare.  \Vhcrever, 


84 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


in  short,  leaf-mould  has  accumulated  in  stony  or  woody 
places,  it  may  be  looked  for,  as  its  creeping,  vigorous 
rhizomas  love  to  occupy  the  congenial  habitats  which 
shade  and  a  leaf-soil  provide. 

Where  Found. — In  every  county  of  England,  Wales, 
Scotland,  and  Ireland ;  in  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  the 
Channel  Islands,  growing  in  many  places  in  extreme 
abundance.  Polypodinni  vnlgare,  Lastrea  filix-vias  (the 
Male  Fern),  and  Pterls  aqnilina  (the  Bracken)  are  the 
most  plentiful  and  widely-distributed  of  all  British  ferns. 


XVIII. — The  Mountain  Polypody. 
Polypodmni  phegopteris. 
(Plate  IX.,  Fig.  4,  page  65.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Six  inches  to  a  foot  and  a  half 
or  twenty  inches. 

General  Description.  —  Roots  fibrous,  somewhat 
long,  and  numerous.  Rootstock,  a  rhizoma,  slender  but 
vigorous,  creeping  extensively  and  horizontally  along  or 
just  underneath  the  soil.  Fivnds  delicate,  herbaceous, 
abundant,  springing  from  numerous  points  along  the 
upper  sides  of  the  rhizomas  3  stipes  delicate,  pale  green, 
slender,  brittle,  about  double  the  length  of  the  leafy 
part;  leafy  part  triangular,  often  pinnate  in  its  lower  part, 
pinnatifid  higher  up.  Pinnae  ordinarily  in  opposite  pairs 
and  pinnatifid,  the  pinnules  nearest  the  main  rachis 
being  sometimes  again  pinnate  in  the  lowest  pair  of 
pinnae,  which  ordinarily  hang  downwards  in  a  peculiar 
manner  distinct  from  the  others.  The  form  of  the  pinna; 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  frond  is  somewhat  lance-shaped, 
their  bases  tapering  towards  the  rachis  and  their  apices 


THE  MOUNTAIN  POLYPODY. 


drawn  out  to  somewhat  acute  points.  Fructification 
distributed  equally  over  every  part  of  the  frond  and 
almost  marginal,  consisting  of  two  rows  of  non-indusiate, 
rounded  sori,  one  on  each  side  of  the  midvein  of  each 
pinnule. 

Habitats. — Damp  woods  in  mountainous  districts, 
or  in  country  that  is  more  or  less  hilly  ;  the  margins  of 
mountain  or  moorland  streams ;  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  waterfalls,  in  the  fine  spray  of  which  this  beautiful 
species  delights  ;  moist  nooks  in  rocks,  especially  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  water.  The  habitats  of  Polypodium 
phegopteris  are  essentially  shady. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Chester,  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Dorset, 
Durham,  Gloucester,  Hereford,  Lancaster,  Monmouth, 
Northumberland,  Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford,  Sussex, 
Westmoreland,  Wilts,  and  York.  In  the  Isle  of  Man. 
In  IVaies,  in  the  counties  of  Brecknock,  Caermarthen, 
Caernarvon,  Cardigan,  Denbigh,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth, 
Montgomery,  and  Radnor.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties 
of  Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr,  Banff,  Berwick,  Caithness, 
Clackmannan,  Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Edinburgh,  Elgin, 
Fife,  Forfar,  Inverness,  Kincardine,  Kinross,  Kirkcud- 
bright, Lanark,  Linlithgow,  Orkney  (including  Shetland), 
Perth,  Renfrew,  Ross,  Roxburgh,  Selkirk,  Stirling,  and 
Sutherland ;  also  in  the  isles  of  Cantyre,  Islay,  and 
Mull.  In  Ireland,  it  is  found  only  in  the  counties  of 
Antrim,  Donegal,  Down,  Galway,  Kerry,  Londonderry, 
Louth,  and  Wicklow.  It  is  found  growing  at  various 
heights  up  to  three  thousand  five  hundred  feet  above 
the  sea-level. 


S6 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


XIX. — The  Three-branched  Polypody. 
'''  Polypodiion  dryoptais. 

(Plate  IX.,  Fig.  3,  page  65.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Six  to  twelve  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  fibrous,  delicate,  nu- 
merous. Rootstock^  a  slender,  somewhat  black  rhizoma, 
which  creeps  extensively,  in  a  horizontal  direction,  upon 
■or  just  underneath  the  soil.  Fronds  triangular,  abundant, 
springing  from  numerous  points  of  the  rhizomas,  delicate, 
brittle,  golden  green,  herbaceous,  each  with  a  slender, 
brittle,  pale-green  stipes  and  a  three-branched  leafy  part, 
about  half  the  length  of  the  stipes  ;  rachis  and  rachides 
also  very  slender,  delicate,  and  brittle.  The  branches  of 
the  frond  grow  at  right  angles  to  each  other,  and  each  is, 
itself,  more  or  less  triangular  in  shape,  with  a  clear  space  of 
stem  between  it  and  the  point  of  attachment  to  the  rachis. 
The  two  lower  branches  are  ordinarily  pinnate  at  and  near 
the  base  and  pinnatifid  higher  up,  and  are  divided  into 
]3airs  of  oblong,  more  or  less  deeply-indented  pinnules, 
the  lower  ones  (near  the  main  rachis)  of  each  pair  being 
longer  than  the  upper  ones.  The  upper  branch  is 
divided  into  opposite  pairs  of  more  or  less  deeply-cleft 
pinnEe,  which  become  gi^adually  merged  into  each  other 
towards  the  apex  of  the  branch  that  forms  the  apex  of 
the  frond.  Fructification  produced  in  rows  of  non- 
indusiate  sori,  one  row  on  each  side  of  the  midvein  of 
pinnule  or  pinna,  according  to  the  size  and  development 
of  the  plant. 

Habitats. — Slightly  less  moist  than  those  of  Polypo- 
.dinni  phegoptcris :  shady  woods  amongst  underwood  and 
in  rocky  crevices  ;  streamsides  and  shady  hedgebanks  in 
hilly,  moorland,  or  mountainous  districts. 


THE  LIMESTONE  POLVPODV. 


87 


AV^HERE  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Chester,  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Durham, 
Gloucester,  Hereford,  Lancaster,  Lincoln,  Monmouth, 
Northumberland,  Oxford,  Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford, 
Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmoreland,  Worcester,  and  York. 
In  Wales,  in  the  counties  of  Anglesea,  Brecknock, 
Caernarvon,  Cardigan,  Denbigh,  Flint,  Glamorgan, 
Merioneth,  Montgomery,  Pembroke,  and  Radnor.  In 
Scotland,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr, 
Banff,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Clackmannan,  Dumbarton, 
Dumfries,  Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar,  Inverness, 
Kincardine,  Kinross,  Kirkcudbright,  Lanark,  Linlithgow, 
Nairn,  Peebles,  Perth,  Renfrew,  Ross,  Roxburgh,  Sel- 
kirk, Stirling,  and  Sutherland.  In  the  isles  of  Arran  and 
Mull,  and  in  Shetland.  In  Ireland,  only  in  the  counties 
of  Antrim,  Down,  Galway,  and  Kerry.  It  is  found 
growing  up  to  and  at  elevations  of  two  thousand  seven 
hundred  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


XX. — The  Limestone  Polvpodv. 
Folypodiiiin  calcareiini. 
(Plate  IX.,  Fig.  2,  page  65.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Eight  to  eighteen  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  black,  numerous 
fibrous.  Rootstock,  a  rhizoma  branched,  slender,  black, 
extensively  creeping.  Fronds  abundant,  triangular, 
bluish-green,  produced  from  numerous  points  of  the 
upper  sides  of  the  rhizomas  ;  less  fragile  than  tliose  of 
Polypodium  dryopteris ;  stipes  of  varying  lengths, 
generally  longer  than  the  leafy  part,  pale  green,  bi]nn- 
nate,  and,  in  large  and  luxuriant  specimens,  tripinnate  ; 


88 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


pinnje  in  pairs  or  alternate  upon  the  rachis  ;  lowest  pair 
of  pinnee  somewhat  narrowly  triangular,  pinnate  and 
sometimes  bipinnate  at  their  bases,  and  divided  into 
opposite  or  alternate,  oblong,  and  somewhat  cone-shaped 
pinnules,  which  are  more  or  less  deeply  cleft  into  narrow, 
oblong,  blunt-pointed  lobes.  The  succeeding  and  upper 
pairs  of  pinnae  are  less  and  less  divided,  on  the  same 
principle,  as  they  near  the  apex  of  the  frond,  the  divi- 
sions of  the  several  pinnee  being  similarly  less  and  less 
towards  their  apices.  This  principle  of  gradation  is 
always  observed  in  all  ferns — the  divisions  or  indenta- 
tions of  all  the  parts  of  fronds  being  less  and  less  from 
base  to  apex  of  frond,  pinna,  pinnule,  lobe,  or  serrature. 
As  in  Polypodiuin  dryopteris,  the  lower  pairs  of  pinnae 
have  their  lower  pinnules  longer  and  more  developed 
than  those  on  the  upper  sides  of  their  respective 
secondary  rachides.  Frjidification  marginal  on  the  lobes 
or  pinnules — according  to  the  size  and  development  of 
the  pinnje — and  bearing  a  strong  general  resemblance  to 
the  arrangement  of  the  fructification  of  the  Bracken. 
But  in  Polypodiiiiii  ralmrcmn  the  sporangia  are  non- 
indusiate.  The  fructification  is  spread  equally  over  the 
whole  under  surface  of  the  frond,  the  pinnules  of  which 
are  concave  on  their  under  sides,  giving  to  them  a  curled, 
crisped  appearance. 

Habitats. — Limestone  districts,  in  moist  crevices  of 
limestone  rocks  and  amongst  loose  limestones.  It 
prefers  shady  positions  especially  for  its  roots,  but  it 
will  oftentimes  be  found  growing  in  places  that  are 
somewhat  sunny. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Bucks,  Cumberland,  Derby,  Durham,  Gloucester,  Here- 
ford, Lancaster,  Oxford,  Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford, 
Westmoreland,  Wilts,  Worcester,  and  York.  In  JVales, 
in  the  counties  of  Brecknock,  Caernarvon,  Denbigh,  and 
Glamorgan.  In  Scotland,  it  is  said  to  have  been  found 
growing  wild  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen  and  Perth, 


THE  ALPINE  POLYPODY. 


89 


but  it  is  believed  to  be  extremely  rare  in  that  country. 
In  Irela?id,  no  plants  of  this  species  have  been  found. 
In  Britain,  Polypodiion  cakareiiin  grows  at  various 
heights  up  to  twelve  hundred  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


XXI. — The  Alpine  Polypody. 

Polypodiiim  alpestre. 

(Plate  XIII.,  Fig.  i,  page  73.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  foot  to  three  feet  and  a 
half. 

General  Description. — Roots  fibrous,  abundant. 
Rootstock,  a  cormus,  erect,  short,  tufted.  Froids  broad, 
lance-shaped,  drawn  out  to  a  point  at  the  apex,  and 
considerably  narrowed  towards  the  base ;  bipinnate ; 
pinnte  alternate  on  the  rachis,  narrow,  pointed,  sym- 
metrical, divided  into  pairs  of  oblong,  somewhat  blunt- 
pointed,  and  deeply-indented  pinnules.  Stipes  short, 
with  a  few  light-coloured  scales  scattered  upon  it.  This 
fern  was  for  a  long  time  confounded  with  the  Lady 
Fern,  Athyriuni  filix-fa'inina,  but  it  was  distinguished 
from  that  species  and  included  amongst  the  Polypodies 
in  1 841,  having  been  discovered  in  that  year  by  Mr. 
Hewett  C.  Watson.  Fnidificatioii  distinct  from  Athy- 
rii/in  filix-fa'i/iina,  and  consisting  of  round,  non-indusiate 
sori  usually  produced  in  two  rows  along  each  pinnule,  a 
sorus  being  placed  ordinarily  in  those  parts  of  the  pin- 
nules immediately  contiguous  to  the  bases  of  the  notches 
between  the  lobes. 

Habitats. — Shady  rocks  and  streamsides  ;  often 
covering  considerable  spaces  of  ground  in  mountainous 
districts. 


9° 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Where  Found. — Only  in  Scotlatid,  in  the  counties  of 
Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Banff,  Forfar,  Inverness,  Perth,  and 
Sutherland,  occurring  at  elevations  reaching  from  twelve 
hundred  to  three  thousand  six  hundred  feet  above  the 
sea-level,  in  company  with,  and  in  similar  positions  to, 
AtJiyriiim  filix-famina  until  the  highest  range  of  that 
species  is  reached,  when  Polypodium  alpestre  occurs 
alone  in  the  higher  elevations. 


XXII. — The  Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern. 
PolysticJaiin  a  cu  leaf  inn. 
(Plate  XII.,  Fig.  i,  page  71.) 

Length  of  Frond.— One  to  four  feet. 

General  Description. — Roots  long,  fibrous,  tough, 
abundant.  Rooistock,  a  large,  tufted  cormus,  the  crown 
of  which  is  raised  above  the  ground.  Fronds  lance- 
shaped,  leathery  in  texture,  dark  green,  produced  in  a 
circle  around  the  crown,  which,  with  the  short  stipes,  is 
thickly  covered  with  rust-coloured  or  reddish-brown 
scales  that  are  usually  thickly  scattered  upon  the  rachis 
and  also  upon  the  secondary  rachides.  Leafy  part  of 
frond  bipinnate ;  pinnae  alternate,  lance-shaped,  divided 
into  alternate,  wing-shaped,  serrated,  and  bristly  pin- 
nules, attached  by  their  bases,  more  or  less  narrowed,  to 
the  secondary  rachides  or  midstems  of  the  pinnfe.  The 
pinnules,  separate  and  distinct  from  each  other  at  the 
inner  ends  of  the  pinna;,  are  decurrent  or  merged  into 
each  other  at  their  bases,  towards  and  at  the  apices  of 
the  pinnae.  The  upper  pinnule  on  each  pinna  situated 
next  the  principal  rachis  is  larger  than  any  of  the  others 
on  the  same  pinna,  and  its  apex  sometimes  overlaps  the 


THE  HARD  PRICKLY  SHIELD  FERN.  9 1 

base  of  the  pinnule  next  above  it.  Fniclification  pro- 
duced in  rows — one  on  each  side  of  the  midvein  of 
each  pinnule,  or,  towards  the  apex  of  the  frond  and 
towards  the  apex  of  the  pinna,  on  each  side  of  the 
midveins  of  the  pinnae  themselves— of  round  sori, 
covered  by  round  indusia. 

Habitats. — 'i'he  sloping  ground  of  woods  where 
shaded  by  trees  or  dwarfer  growths  ;  the  sides  of  hedge 
and  other  embankments  which  make  the  boundaries  of 
shady  lanes  ;  the  sides  of  hills,  especially  where  frag- 
ments of  rock  and  sheltering  shrubs  cover  ground 
enriched  by  leaf-mould.  Dwarf  specimens  or  seedlings 
may  sometimes  be  found  upon  walls  ;  but  such  positions 
are  exceptional,  as  only  depths  of  rich  earth  can  afford 
the  root-room  required  by  large  and  luxuriant  plants  of 
this  species. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Bedford,  Berks,  Bucks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cornwall, 
Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Dorset,  Durham,  Essex, 
Gloucester,  Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle  of  Wight), 
Hereford,  Hertford,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Leicester,  Lincoln,. 
Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk,  Northampton,  Northum- 
berland, Nottingham,  Oxford,  Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford, 
Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmoreland,  Wilts, 
Worcester,  and  York.  In  Wales,  in  the  counties  of 
Anglesea,  Brecknock,  Caermarthen,  Caernarvon,  Den- 
bigh, Flint,  Glamorgan,  and  Pembroke.  In  the  Isle  of 
Man.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen,  Argyle, 
Ayr,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Clackmannan,  Dumfries, 
Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar,  Haddington,  Inverness, 
Kincardine,  Kinross,  Kirkcudbright,  Lanark,  Nairn, 
Orkney,  Peebles,  Perth,  Renfrew,  Ross,  Roxburgh, 
Selkirk,  Stirling,  and  Sutherland  :  also  in  the  isles  of 
Bute,  Cantyre,  and  Islay.  In  Ireland,  in  the  counties 
of  Antrim,  Clare,  Dublin,  Galway,  and  AVicklow.  It 
is  found  in  Jersey.  It  ascends  to  two  tliousand  five 
hundred  feet  above  the  sea-level. 

II 


92 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


XXIII. — The  Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern. 
Polystichimi  angtdare. 
(Plate  v.,  page  57.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  to  four  feet. 

General  Description. — Jioofs  long,  fibrous,  abun- 
dant. Rootstock,  a  thick,  tufted  cormus,  the  crown  being 
raised  above  the  ground.  Fronds  lance-shaped,  somewhat 
soft  in  texture,  light  green,  sometimes  golden  green, 
though  at  times  much  darker  in  colour,  produced  in  a 
circle  around  the  crown,  which  with  the  short  stipides — 
each  stijDes  being  about  one-fourth  the  length  of  the 
leafy  part  of  the  frond — is  densely  covered  with  rust- 
coloured  scales.  These  are  continued  thickly  upon  the 
rachis  and  also  frequently  upon  the  secondary  rachides. 
Leafy  part  of  frond  bipinnate,  pinnse  alternate,  lance- 
shaped,  divided  into  angular,  slightly-indented,  and 
somewhat  hairy  pinnules,  each  of  which  is  distinctly 
stalked,  though  the  stalk  is  short.  The  pinnules  are 
alternate  upon  the  secondary  rachides.  The  entire 
aspect  of  the  fronds  of  Polystichum  angiilare  is  more  la.x 
and  drooping  than  that  of  Polysiichnm  acideatuf/i,  and 
the  pinnules  are  more  distinctly  angular  than  those  of 
its  congener,  though  in  some  other  respects  the  two 
species  very  much  resemble  each  other.  Fntctificaiio7i 
produced  in  rows  of  sori,  one  row  on  each  side  of  the 
midvein  of  each  pinnule.  The  sori  are  round,  and  are 
covered  in  their  early  stage  by  round  indusia,  which  fall 
off  when  the  ripening  of  the  spores  is  completed. 

Habitats. — Woods,  in  all  kinds  of  positions  upon 
the  ground,  growing  oftentimes  lu.xuriantly  under  trees, 
or  v.'herever  there  are  rich  deposits  of  leaf-soil  ;  stream- 
sides,  in  the  shade ;  lanes,  upon  the  sides  and  tops  of 


THE  HOLLY  FERN. 


93 


hedgebanks ;  hillsides,  amongst  shrubs  and  broken 
rocks ;  the  long,  sloping  sides  of  cuttings  which  border 
roadsides  in  hilly  country ;  and  the  hedgebanks  which 
run  on  either  side  of  roadways.  Polysiichuin  ajigii/are 
is  oftentimes  found  in  great  abundance. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Berks,  Bucks,  Chester,  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Derby, 
Devon,  Dorset,  Durham,  Essex,  Gloucester,  Hants  (the 
mainland  and  the  Isle  of  Wight),  Hereford,  Hertford, 
Huntingdon,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Leicester,  Middlesex, 
Norfolk,  Northumberland,  Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford, 
Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmoreland,  Wilts. 
Worcester,  and  York.  In  Wales,  in  the  counties  of 
Anglesea,  Brecknock,  Caermarthen,  Caernarvon,  Car- 
digan, Denbigh,  Flint,  Glamorgan,  Pembroke,  and 
Radnor.  In  the  Isle  of  Man.  In  Scotland,  only  in  the 
counties  of  Ayr,  Argyle,  Berwick,  and  Roxburgh.  In 
Iniand,  in  the  counties  of  Antrim,  Clare,  Cork,  Dublin, 
Galway,  Kilkenny,  Tipperary,  Waterford,  and  Wicklow. 
Also  in  the  Arran  Isles.  It  grows  also  in  Jersey  and 
Guernsey.  It  is  found  growing  at  various  heights  up  to 
two  thousand  five  hundred  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


XXIV.— The  Holly  Fern. 
Polystichum  loncJiitis. 
(Plate  VIII.,  Figs.  3  and  4,  page  63.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Six  inches  to  two  feet. 

General  Description.— fibrous,  wiry,  tough. 
Rootstock,  a  tufted,  somewhat  thick  cormus.  Fronds 
narrowly  lance-shaped,  evergreen,  rigid,  leathery,  spiny, 
simply  pinnate,  each  frond  strongly  resembling  a  pinna 

II  2 


94 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


of  PolysticJium  angulare.  The  serrated,  bristly  pinnje 
are  alternate  along  and  on  opposite  sides  of  the  rachis, 
and  wing-shaped,  and  are  attached  to  the  rachis  by  their 
narrowed  bases,  the  upper  portion  of  each  pinna  next 
the  rachis  ordinarily  overlapping  the  base  of  the  pinna 
next  above  it;  stipes  very  short  and  scaly.  Fructification 
usually  present  only  on  the  upper  sides  of  the  fronds, 
and  consisting  of  rows — one  on  each  side  of  the  midvein 
of  each  pinna — of  round  sori,  covered,  when  the  spore- 
cases  are  young,  by  round  indusia.  The  sori  are  usually 
so  arranged  that  they  form  an  acute  angle  on  the  under- 
side of  each  fruitful  pinna,  the  angle  being  at  the  apex 
of  each  pinna,  the  lines  which  form  it  widening  out 
towards  the  base. 

Habitats. — Mostly  in  localities  not  less  than  a  thou- 
sand feet  above  the  sea-level ;  in  such  localities  it  grows 
in  moist,  rocky  fissures,  and  is  oftentimes  firmly  and  im- 
movably wedged  into  stony  crevices. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Cumberland,  Durham,  Northumberland,  Westmoreland, 
and  York.  The  particular  localities  in  three  of  these 
counties  are  the  following  :  in  Cumberland,  at  Fairfield, 
Helvellyn  ;  in  Durham,  on  the  Falcon  Glints,  Teesdale, 
some  ten  miles  westward  of  Middleton,  and  also  on  the 
Mazebeck  Scar ;  in  the  county  of  York,  on  Attermire 
Scar ;  in  the  neighbourhoods  of  Giggleswick  and  Ingle- 
borough,  and  (near  Settle)  at  Langclifl"e.  In  Wales,  in 
Caernarvon,  Glamorgan,  and  Merioneth.  In  Caernarvon, 
the  neighbourhoods  of  Clogwyn-y-garnedd,  of  Cwm- 
Idwal,  of  Glyder-Vawr,  and  of  Twll-du.  In  Merioneth, 
it  has  been  found  (on  Cader  Idris)  by  Mr.  Franklin  T. 
Richards.  In  Scutland,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen, 
Argyle,  Banff,  Caithness,  Dumbarton,  Elgin,  Forfar, 
Inverness,  Orkney,  Perth,  Ross,  Stirling,  and  Suther- 
land ;  also  in  the  Isle  of  Mull,  on  Ben  More.  The 
special  localities  of  some  of  these  countries  are  these: 
in  the  county  of  Forfar,  on  the  Clova  Mountains,  Can- 


THE  BRITTLE  BLADDER  FERN. 


95 


lochen,  on  Craig  Maid,  in  Glen  Isla,  in  Glen  Dole,  and 
in  Glen  Fiadh  ;  in  the  county  of  Inverness,  amongst  the 
mountains  and  rocks  near  Loch  Erricht  ;  in  the  county 
of  Perth,  on  Ben  Chonzie,  near  Crieff,  on  Ben  Lawers, 
on  Ben  Voirlich,  on  Craig  Challiach,  and  in  Glen  Lyon. 
In  the  county  of  Ross,  near  Castle  Leod,  on  the  Raven 
Rock ;  and  in  the  county  of  Sutherland,  at  Assynt  and 
on  Ben  Hope.  In  Ireland^  in  the  counties  of  Donegal, 
Kerry,  Leitrim,  Meath,  and  Sligo  ;  and  in  the  following 
places  :  to  the  east  of  Lough  Eske,  in  a  glen  on  the 
Rosses,  and  in  the  Thanet  mountain  passes.  In  Kerry, 
on  Brandon  Hill ;  in  Leitrim,  on  the  Glenade  Moun- 
tains ;  in  Meath,  at  Navan,  and  in  Sligo,  on  the  Ben 
Bulben  Mountains.  The  Holly  Fern  is  found  at 
heights  ranging  from  a  thousand  feet  above  the  sea- 
level  to  three  thousand  two  hundred  feet  above  it. 


XXV. — The  Brittle  Bladder  Fern, 
Cystopteris  fragilis. 
(Plate  X.,  Fig.  2,  page  67.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Six  to  fourteen  inches,  depend- 
ing on  the  character  of  its  habitats. 

General  Description. — Roots  black,  fibrous,  wiry, 
numerous.  Rootstock,  a  small,  tufted  cormus,  which 
spreads  laterally,  forming  several  adjacent  crowns. 
Fronds  in  numerous  tufts  from  each  crown,  delicate- 
green,  brittle,  herbaceous  ;  stipes  of  varying  lengths,  very 
brittle  ;  leafy  part  broadly  lance-shaped,  bipinnatc,  the 
ovate  pinnna  alternate  or  in  pairs  along  the  rachis,  and 
divided  into  irregularly-alternate,  ovate  pinnules,  which 
are  again  divided  into  rounded,  oblong,  much-indented 


96  WHERE  TO   FIND  FERNS. 

lobes.  Fructification  irregularly  but  abundantly  distri- 
buted over  the  under  sides  of  the  lobes,  and  consisting 
of  roundish  sori,  covered  by  inflated,  bladder-like  or 
hood-like  indusia,  attached  each  by  one  side — that 
towards  the  base  of  the  lobe — and  falling  off  when  the 
spores  are  ripened.  The  sori  then  frequently  become 
confluent,  and  cover  the  entire  under  sides  of  the  fronds 
with  their  rich-brown  fructification. 

HABiT.vrs. — Shady  and  moist  crevices  of  rocks,  espe- 
cially limestone  rocks ;  though,  owing  to  its  hardiness, 
this  species  may  be  found  in  other  rocky  habitats.  Its 
rootstocks  are  often  so  firmly  ensconced  in  the  stony 
chinks  it  loves  best  as  to  render  their  extraction  difticult 
or  impossible  ;  but  in  other  cases,  when  growing  amongst 
loose  stones,  it  is  easily  obtainable.  It  grows  also  on 
walls  and  on  stony  banks,  always  preferring  their  shady 
sides. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Chester,  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Dorset, 
Durham,  Essex,  Gloucester,  Hereford,  Kent,  Lancaster, 
Leicester,  Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk,  Northampton, 
Northumberland,  Nottingham,  Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford, 
Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmoreland,  V/ilts, 
Worcester,  and  York.  In  Wales,  in  the  counties  of  An- 
glesea,  Brecknock,  Caermarthen,  Caernarvon,  Cardigan, 
Denbigh,  Flint,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  Montgomery, 
and  Radnor.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen, 
Argyle,  Ayr,  Banff,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Clackmannan, 
Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar, 
Haddington,  Inverness,  Kincardine,  Kinross,  Kirkcud- 
bright, Lanark,  Linlithgow,  Nairn,  Orkney,  Perth, 
Renfrew,  Ross,  Roxburgh,  Selkirk,  Stirling,  and  Suther- 
land :  also  in  the  Hebrides.  In  Ireland,  in  the  counties 
of  Antrim,  Cork,  Down,  Galway,  Kerry,  Leitrim,  Sligo, 
and  Wicklow.  It  is  found  growing  at  various  heights 
up  to  nearly  four  thousand  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


THE  ALPINE  BLADDER  FERN. 


97 


XXVI. — The  Alpine  Bladder  Fern. 
Cystopteris  regia. 
(Plate  XII.,  Fig.  2,  page  71.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Four  to  ten  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  fibrous,  black,  wiry, 
numerous.  Rootstock,  a  small,  tufted  cormus.  Fronds 
numerous,  brittle,  herbaceous,  delicate,  produced  in 
tufts  ;  stipes  ordinarily  short ;  leafy  portion  somewhat 
broadly  lance-shaped,  bipinnate  ;  pinnte — in  opposite 
pairs  upon  the  rachis  or  alternate — short,  ovate,  and 
again  divided  into  bluntly-ovate,  deeply-incised  pinnules. 
This  fern  resembles  a  rounded  form  of  Cystopteris 
fragilis.  Fructification  produced  abundantly  over  all 
the  under-surface  of  the  frond,  and  consisting  of  round 
sori  covered  by  the  hood-like  indusia,  each  sorus  keep- 
ing itself  distinct  from  the  others.  Hence  the  sori  of 
this  species  do  not  become  confluent,  as  frequently  do 
those  of  Cystopteris  fragilis. 

Habitats. — The  moist  fissures  of  rocks  and  the 
earthy  seams  of  old  walls. 

Where  Found. — This  fern  has  been  discovered  in 
very  few  localities  in  Britain,  though  it  is  quite  possible 
that  it  is  much  more  plentiful  than  is  generally  supposed. 
The  places  where  it  has  been  found  growing  in  Etigiand 
are  in  the  counties  of  Cumberland,  Derby,  Durham, 
Essex,  and  York  ;  at  Saddleback  in  Cumberland,  and 
at  Low  Ley  ton  in  Essex,  in  which  last-named  place  it 
was  found  upon  an  old  wall  from  which  it  has  now  dis- 
appeared. In  Wales,  it  is  said  to  have  been  found  at 
Cwm-Idwal  and  on  Snowdon  ;  and  on  Ben  Lawers  in 
Scotland, 


98 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


XXVII. — The  Mountain  Bladder  Fern. 
Cystopteris  moniana. 
(Plate  X.,  Fig.  3,  page  67.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Four  to  ten  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  fibrous,  not  very 
abundant.  Rootstock,  a  rhizoma,  which  creeps  consider- 
ably in  a  horizontal  direction,  thin  and  dark-coloured. 
Fro7ids  abundant,  bright  green,  brittle,  herbaceous, 
produced  from  numerous  points  along  the  rhizoma  ; 
stipes  about  twice  the  length  of  the  leafy  part,  which  is 
somewhat  triangular  in  general  form  and  tripinnate  in 
its  lower  part,  though  bipinnate  higher  up.  Pinnae 
alternate  or  opposite,  generally  the  former,  on  the 
rachis.  The  basal  pinnules  of  the  two  lowest  pinnae 
are  much  longer  on  the  lower  than  on  the  upper  sides 
of  their  midstems  or  secondary  rachides,  and  these 
elongated  pinnules  are  again  divided  into  alternate,  egg- 
shaped,  and  deeply-indented  lobes,  thus  becoming  tri- 
pinnate. The  remaining  pinnules  are  less  and  less 
divided  both  towards  the  apex  of  the  frond  and  towards 
the  apices  of  their  respective  pinnae.  Fniciificatio7i 
abundant  upon  the  fronds,  and  consisting  of  round  sori, 
covered,  when  young,  by  the  bladder-like  or  hood-like 
indusia  which  are  characteristic  of  the  genus  Cysloptc7-is. 

Habitats. — Rocky  fissures  in  mountainous  districts 
and  the  rocky  margins  of  mountain  streams,  ^^'here 
rich  leaf  mould  has  collected  in  such  fissures,  this  species 
grows  luxuriantly,  always  preferring  the  most  complete 
shade. 

Where  Found. — In  Scotland,  only  in  the  counties  ot 
Aberdeen,  Forfar,  and  Perth  ;  the  particular  districts  in 
the  two  last-named  counties  being  in  Canlochen,  at  the 


THE  OBLONG  WOODSIA. 


99 


head  of  Glen  Isla,  in  Forfarshire,  and  on  Ben  Lawers, 
and  at  Corrach  Dh'  OufiUach,  between  Glen  Lochy  and 
Glen  Dochart,  in  the  county  of  Perth.  But  it  is  possibly 
much  more  abundant  than  these  rare  "  finds  "  would 
seem  to  indicate. 


XXVIII.— The  Oblong  \Voodsl\. 

IVoodsia  ilvensis. 
(Plate  XV.,  Figs  2  and  3,  page  77.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Two  to  six  inches. 

Gener.-vl  Description. — Roots  fibrous,  wiry.  Root- 
stock  small,  tufted.  Fronds  numerous,  brittle,  deciduous, 
thick  and  woolly  in  texture,  produced  in  clusters  from 
the  crown ;  stipes  of  varying  lengths,  generally  rather 
short,  jointed,  reddish,  breaking  off  when  the  fronds 
begin  to  decay  a  little  distance  above  the  crown  ;  leafy 
parts  hairy  or  woolly,  oblong,  lance-shaped,  pinnate; 
pinnee  opposite  or  alternate,  oblong,  egg-shaped,  short, 
pinnatifid,  and  divided  into  small,  blunt-pointed  pinnules, 
the  incisions  between  which  reach  down  almost  to  the 
midstems  of  the  pinnse.  Fructification  consisting  of 
spore-cases  somewhat  marginal  upon  the  undersides  of 
the  pinnules,  and  provided  with  indusia  which  lie  as  a 
sort  of  scales  under  the  sori,  with  a  fringed  margin,  which 
is  spread  over  them.  The  thickly  hair-covered  under- 
surfaces  of  the  pinnules  afford  a  sort  of  shelter  for  the 
sporangia. 

Habitats. — Moist  crevices  of  rocks  in  mountainous 
districts  at  such  altitudes  as  lie  between  twelve  hundred 
and  three  thousand  feet  above  the  sea-level. 

Where  Found. — \xiEndand^  in  the  counties  of  Cum- 
berland, Durham,  Westmoreland,  and  York;  in  Durham, 


lOO 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


on  basaltic  rocks  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cauldron 
Snout  and  on  Falcon  Glints,  Teesdale.  In  Wales,  in  the 
counties  of  Caernarvon  and  Merioneth ;  in  Caernarvon- 
shire, at  the  pass  of  Llanberis  amongst  limestone  rocks  ; 
also  on  rocks  at  Clogwyn-y-Garnedd  and  in  similar 
positions  at  the  little  Dog's  Lake  (Llyn-y-Gwm)  near 
Glyder  Vawr.  Here  the  plants  have  been  reputed  to  be 
abundant,  but  difficult  of  access,  owing  to  the  steepness 
of  the  rocks.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of  Dumfries, 
Elgin,  Forfar,  and  Perth  ;  and  in  the  following  localities 
in  those  counties  :  in  Dumfries,  at  the  "  Devil's  Beef- 
tub,"  upon  rocks  in  a  ravine  near  Loch  Skene,  at  a  farm 
called  Corehead  near  Moffatt,  and  upon  hills  near 
Moffatt;  also  amongst  crumbling  rocks  upon  hills  divid- 
ing Dumfries  from  Peebles  ;  in  Elgin,  near  Forres ;  in 
Forfar,  in  Glen  Fiadh  amongst  the  Clova  Mountains. 
It  is  also  found  on  rocks  upon  Ben  Chonzie,  near  Crieff, 
and  its  other  habitats  in  Perthshire  are  on  Ben  Lawers. 
It  has  not  been  recorded  as  having  been  found  in 
Ireland :  but  it  is  quite  possibly  present  in  many  localities, 
where  it  has  not  been  discovered  by  botanists  who  are 
in  the  habit  of  publishing  their  "  finds." 


XXIX.— The  Alpine  Woodsi.-v. 
IVoodsia  alj>ina. 
(Plate  XV.,  Fig.  4,  page  77.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  to  six  inches. 

General  Description. — Roofs  slender,  fibrous,  wiry. 
Rootstock  slender,  tufted.  Fronds  small,  thick,  leathery, 
hairy — but  less  hairy  than  Woodsia  ilvcnsis — numerous, 
produced  in  tufts  from  the  crown,  pinnate,  lance-shaped; 
stipes  rather  short,  slightly  hairy;  pinnos  short,  in  pairs 


THE  ALPINE  WOODSIA. 


101 


or  alternate,  sometimes  distant  from  each  other,  egg- 
shaped,  and  divided  into  two  or  three  rounded,  blunt 
pinnules,  or,  in  small  plants,  lobes,  the  clefts  between 
them  being  more  or  less  deep  according  to  their  size. 
Fructification  produced  upon  the  margins  of  the  pin- 
nules, and  protected  by  indusia  in  the  form  of  scales, 
which  lie  under  the  sori  and  have  fringed  margins,  which 
are  spread  over  them,  as  already  indicated  in  the  case  of 
the  species  last  described.  But  in  Woodsia  alpiiia  the 
undersides  of  the  pinnules  are  less  hairy  than  are  those 
of  the  Oblong  Woodsia,  and  the  sporangia  are  con- 
sequently better  seen. 

Habitats. — Similar  to  those  of  its  congener  Woodsia 
ilvensis,  namely,  moist  crevices  of  rocks  at  altitudes 
between  twelve  hundred  and  three  thousand  feet  above 
the  sea-level. 

Where  Found. — Only  in  JVaks  and  Scotland.  In 
Wales,  in  the  county  of  Caernarvon  only;  on  the  eastern 
side  of  Snowdon  in  a  rocky  chasm  called  Clogwyn-y- 
Garnedd,  and  on  limestone  rocks  at  Moel  Lechog  at 
the  pass  of  Llanberis.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of 
Dumfries,  Forfar,  and  Perth — the  habitats  in  Forfarshire 
being  in  Glen  Fiadh,  on  the  Clova  Mountains,  and  in 
Glen  Isla ;  and  in  Perthshire,  on  Ben  Chonzie  (near 
Crieff),  on  Ben  Lawers,  at  Catiaghiamman,  on  Craig 
Challiach,  and  at  Mael-dun-crosk.  But,  as  with  other 
reputedly  "  rare "  ferns,  it  is  quite  possible  that  it  is 
much  more  plentiful  than  is  generally  supposed. 


102 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


XXX.— The  Male  Fkrn. 
Lastrea  filix-mas. 
(Plate  XV.,  Fig.  i,  page  77.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  foot  to  five  feet,  according 
to  its  more  or  less  congenial  conditions  of  growth. 

General  Description. — Roots  abundant,  long,  wiry, 
fibrous.  Rootstock,  a  large,  tufted  cormus,  whose  crown 
is  sometimes  raised  several  inches  above  the  ground,  and 
is  always  raised  to  some  extent.  Fronds  broadly  lance- 
shaped,  numerous,  rigid,  thick,  bold-looking,  somewhat 
leathery,  produced  in  a  circle  around  the  crown,  shuttle- 
cock-shape ;  stipes  usually  very  short — not  exceeding  a 
sixth  of  the  length  of  the  leafy  part — densely  covered, 
as  is  the  crown  of  the  rootstock  and  the  under  (and 
sometimes  the  upper)  sides  of  the  rachides,  by  rust- 
coloured  scales,  which  often  extend  in  smaller  form  and 
less  thickly  to  the  under  sides  of  the  rachides  or  mid- 
stems  of  the  pinnje ;  leafy  part  pinnate  in  small  speci- 
mens and  partially  bipinnate  in  more  luxuriant  ones ; 
pinnee  placed  on  the  rachis  in  opposite  pairs,  or  alter- 
nately, long,  tapering,  and  pointed,  widest  at  their  bases, 
becoming  smaller  gradually  outwards,  and  again  divided 
into  oblong,  somewhat  short,  blunt  pinnules  closely  set 
together  with  great  regularity — so  much  so  that  their 
apices  form  almost  straight  lines.  These  symmetrical 
pinnte  are  either  pinnate  or  pinnatifid — some  being  the 
one  and  some  the  other  in  finely-developed  specimens — 
the  tendency  to  division  being  always  less  towards  the 
apex  of  the  frond  and  towards  the  apices  of  the  pinnre. 
Fructification  usually  confined  to  upper  half  of  under  side 
of  frond,  and  consisting  of  rows  of  sori,  a  row  on  each 
side  of  the  midvein  of  each  pinnule — each  sorus  being 


THE  BROAD  BUCKLER  FERN. 


103 


covered  by  a  kidney-shaped  indusium  attached  by  its 
notched  side,  but  falling  off  when  the  spores  are  ripe. 

Habitats.  —  Woods,  glades,  commons,  heaths, 
streamsides,  hillsides,  rocks,  walls,  cliffs,  banks  and 
mounds,  and  green  lanes — growing  in  almost  every 
imaginable  position.  The  ground  under  trees  in  woods; 
sloping  ground  of  open  parts  of  woods  or  forests  ;  rocky 
embankments ;  the  ground  under  forest  undergrowth  ; 
the  sides  of  waterfalls ;  hedgetops  ;  hedgesides ;  ditches 
where  there  is  motion  in  the  water.  This  species  some- 
times grows  in  the  shade,  often  in  the  full  sunshine — a 
pigmy  when  found  on  walls  or  other  "  stony  places " 
where  there  is  no  depth  of  earth — a  giant  (amongst  its 
kind)  when  in  shadow  in  a  vapour-laden  atmosphere 
and  in  congenial  soil.  It  grows,  in  short,  almost  every- 
where. 

Where  Found. — In  E/igland,  IVales,  Scotland^  Ire- 
land, and  all  the  British  Isles,  large  or  small,  this 
abundant  fern  is  found.  No  soil  on  which  fern-life  is  at 
all  possible  is  likely  to  be  foreign  to  Lastrea  fiUx-inas. 
From  the  sea-level  at  various  altitudes  up  to  two 
thousand  five  hundred  feet  above  it,  the  Male  Fern  is 
abundantly  distributed. 


XXXI. — The  Broad  Buckler  Fern. 
Lastrea  dilaiata. 
(Plate  II.,  page  51.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  to  six  feet. 

General  Description. — Roots  abundant,  fibrous, 
wiry.  Rootstock,  a  large,  tufted  cornms,  its  crown  raised 
a  little  above  the  surface  of  the  soil.  Fronds  deciduous, 
produced  around  the  crown,  dark  green,  arching,  nume- 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


rous,  broadly  lance-shaped,  sometimes  nearly  triangular, 
tripinnate  at  the  base,  and  bipinnate  above ;  stipes  of 
varying  lengths  half  as  long,  a  third  as  long,  or  the 
same  length  as  the  leafy  part,  scattered  over  with  dark- 
coloured  scales ;  pinnae  opposite  or  alternate  along  the 
rachis,  narrowly  triangular  in  shape,  and  divided  into 
oblong  pinnules  alternate  on  the  secondary  rachides, 
the  pinnules  being  again  divided  into  larger  or  smaller 
sharply-incised  lobes,  whose  under  sides  are  concave. 
The  two  pinnee  at  the  base  of  the  frond  have  the  pin- 
nules on  the  under  sides  of  their  midstems  longer  than 
those  above  them,  and  more  developed  (being  con- 
sequently tripinnate).  The  next  pair  or  two  above 
partake  slightly  of  the  same  character,  and  the  pinnules 
gradually  become  equal  on  both  sides  towards  the  apex 
of  the  frond.  Fructification  in  rows  of  small  sori,  one 
on  each  side  of  each  pinnule  or  lobe,  according  to  the 
size  and  development  of  the  pinnje,  scattered  pretty 
evenly  over  the  under  surface  of  the  frond,  and  covered, 
in  its  early  stage,  by  kidney-shaped  indusia,  which  fall 
away  when  the  spores  have  ripened. 

Habitats. — Woods,  lanes,  hedgebanks,  streamsides. 
It  grows  with  greatest  luxuriance  in  the  shade,  and  in 
positions  where  accumulations  of  leaf-mould  have  been 
formed.  Small  specimens  may  sometimes  be  found 
on  rocks  and  even  on  old  walls,  but  these  are  not  the 
natural  habitats  of  this  species,  which  requires  a  depth 
of  rich  earth  and  a  sloping  position  to  acquire  its  finest 
proportions. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Berks,  Bucks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cornwall,  Cumber- 
land, Derby,  Devon,  Dorset,  Durham,  Essex,  Gloucester, 
Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle  of  Wight),  Hereford, 
Hertford,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Leicester,  Lincoln,  Middle- 
sex, Monmouth,  Norfolk,  Northampton,  Northumber- 
land, Nottingham,  Oxford,  Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford, 
Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  "\A'arwick,  Westmoreland,  Wills, 


THE  HAY-SCENTED  BUCKLER  FERN. 


Worcester,  and  York.  In  IVa/es,  in  the  counties  of 
Anglesea,  Brecknock,  Caermarthen,  Caernarvon,  Car- 
digan, Denbigh,  FUnt,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  Pembroke, 
and  Radnor.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen, 
Argle,  A.yx,  Banff,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Clackmannan, 
Dumbarton,  Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar,  Haddington, 
Inverness,  Kincardine,  Kinross,  Lanark,  LinHthgow, 
Orkney,  Perth,  Renfrew,  Ross,  Ro.xburgh,  Stirling,  and 
Sutherland ;  also  in  the  islands  of  Arran,  Cantyre,  Harris, 
Islay,  Lewis,  and  Uist.  In  Ireland,  in  the  counties  of 
Clare,  Cork,  Down,  Dublin,  Galway,  and  Kilkenny ;  in 
King's  County,  Limerick,  Tipperary,  Waterford,  and 
Wicklow.  In  Jersey  and  Guernsey.  It  grows  from  the 
sea-level  to  three  thousand  seven  hundred  feet  above  it. 


XXXII. — The  Hay-scented  Buckler  Fern. 
Lastrea  reciirva. 
(Plate  VI.,  Fig.  2,  page  59.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  foot  to  two  feet. 

General  Description. — 7i<?^7/5 abundant,  wiry,  fibrous. 
Rooistock,  a  tufted  cormus,  whose  crown  is  slightly  raised 
above  the  soil.  Fronds  strongly  resembling  in  general 
form— e.xcept  in  the  matter  of  size — those  of  Lastrea 
dilatata.  Stipes  varying  in  length,  but  frequently  about 
as  long  as  the  leafy  part,  scattered  over  near  its  base,  and 
also  in  a  less  degree  higher  up,  with  a  few  dark  or 
muddy-brown  scales;  leafy  part  triangular,  tripinnate  in 
its  lower  part  and  bipinnate  above  ;  pinnae  opposite  or 
alternate,  lower  ones  also  triangular,  succeeding  ones 
above  becoming  narrower  and  narrower  towards  the 
apex  of  the  frond ;  pinnules  alternate  on  the  secondary 


io6 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


rachides,  and  more  or  less  deeply  divided  into  sharply- 
indented  lobes,  the  pinnules  on  the  under  sides  of  the 
midstems  of  the  lowest  pair  of  pinnae  being  considerably 
longer  and  more  divided  than  those  on  the  upper  sides 
of  the  same  midstems ;  the  same  kind  of  difference, 
though  in  a  less  degree,  being  observable  in  the  pinnules 
of  the  pinnaj  above — the  difference  gradually  disap- 
pearing towards  the  apex  of  the  frond.  Characters 
which,  besides  its  smaller  size,  distinguish  this  species 
from  Lastrea  dilatata  are  the  strong  hay  scent  which  is 
diffused  by  the  fronds,  especially  when  in  a  dry  or  drying 
state,  the  bluish-green  hue  of  its  fronds,  and  the  recurving 
of  the  lobes  of  the  pinnules.  It  has  been  seen  that  in 
Lastrea  dilatata  the  under  sides  of  the  lobes  are  concave, 
a  feature  which  gives  a  drooping  aspect  to  the  entire 
frond.  In  Lastrea  recnma,  on  the  other  hand,  the  lobes 
are  recurved,  so  that  they  are  slightly  concave  on  their 
upper  sides.  Fnictificatioii  distributed  over  the  entire 
under  surface  of  the  frond,  and  consisting  of  rows — one 
on  each  side  of  the  midvein  of  each  lobe  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  frond  and  of  each  pinnule  on  the  upper  part 
— of  kidney-shajDed  indusia,  green  at  first,  and  subse- 
quently becoming  brown  and  falling  off  as  the  spores  are 
ripened. 

Habitats. — Moist  and  sheltered  rocky  and  other 
banks  and  hollows  of  woods ;  loose  stones  upon  hillsides 
or  embankments ;  the  tops  and  sides  of  hedgebanks 
where  the  luxuriance  of  shrubs  and  trees  makes  shady 
places.  The  positions  this  fern  prefers  are  those  where 
rich  leaf-soil  is  found  in  conjunction  with  shade  and 
moisture. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Devon,  Dorset,  Hereford,  Kent, 
Lancaster,  Northumberland,  Salop,  Somerset,  Sussex, 
Westmoreland,  and  York.  In  Wales,  in  the  counties  of 
Anglesea,  Caernarvon,  Cilamorgan,  Merioneth  and  Pem- 
broke.   In  the  Isle  of  Man.    In  Scotland,  in  the  counties 


THE  RIGID  BUCKLER  FERN. 


of  Argyle,  Berwick,  Dumbarton,  Forfar,  Inverness, 
Orkney,  and  Roxburgh ;  also  in  the  islands  of  Arran, 
Mull,  and  North  Uist.  In  Ireland,  in  the  counties  of 
Antrim,  Clare,  Cork,  Donegal,  Galway,  Kerry,  London- 
derry, Mayo,  Sligo,  Waterford,  and  Wicklow.  In  the 
island  of  Guernsey.  It  is  found  growing  from  the  sca- 
level  to  two  or  three  thousand  feet  above  it. 


XXXIII. — The  Rigid  Buckler  Fern. 
Lastrea  rigida. 
(Plate  VI.,  Fig.  3,  page  59.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  foot  to  two  feet. 

General  Description. — Roots  abundant,  fibrous. 
Kootstock,  a  thick,  tufted  cormus.  Fronds  rigid,  erect ; 
stipes  about  half  the  length  of,  or  as  long  as,  the  leafy 
part,  scaly,  the  scales  being  continued  along  the  rachis  ; 
leafy  part  triangular,  bipinnate,  pinna:  cone-shaped,  in 
pairs  or  alternate  upon  the  rachis,  and  divided  into 
oblong,  alternate,  indented  pinnules,  which  arc  arranged 
in  symmetrical  order  upon  the  secondary  rachides — 
the  whole  frond  having  a  very  elegantly-cut  appearance. 
Frnctification  consisting  of  lines  of  sporangia — a  line  on 
each  side  ot  the  midvein  of  each  pinnule — covered  by 
the  kidney-shaped  indusia  characteristic  of  the  genus 
Lastrea. 

Hamitats. — Rocky  hollows,  in  the  moist  crevices  of 
which  the  Rigid  Buckler  Fern  often  grows  abundantly  in 
its  own  districts.  It  prefers  limestone  rocks  ;  and  is,  in 
fact,  the  only  one  of  the  genus  Lastrea  which  prefers 
rocky  habitats. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  only  in  the  counties  of 
Cornwall,  Lancaster,  Somerset,  Westmoreland,  and  York; 

I 


io8 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


in  Lancashire,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Silverdale ;  in 
Westmoreland,  at  Arnside  Knot,  at  Farlton  Knot,  and 
at  Hutton  Roof  Crags ;  in  Yorkshire,  at  Ingleborough, 
Ingleton,  on  the  Attermine  Rocks,  near  Settle,  at  Wharn- 
side,  and  White  Scars.  It  has  not  been  recorded  as 
having  been  found  in  Wales  or  in  Scotland,  and  in 
h-eland  only  in  the  county  of  Louth.  It  is  found  growing 
at  various  heights  up  to  fifteen  hundred  feet  above  the 
sea-level. 


XXXIV. — The  Crested  Buckler  Fern. 
Lastna  crisiata. 
(Plate  XIV.,  Fig.  i,  page  75.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  to  three  feet. 

General  Description.  —  Roots  abundant,  fibrous. 
Roolstock,  a  stout  caudex,  which  extends  itself  laterally  in 
the  ground,  producing  several  crowns,  which  oftentimes, 
when  the  plant  spreads  over  an  area  of  several  square 
feet,  are  still  adherent  to  each  other,  and  show  their 
common  origin.  Fronds  numerous,  produced  promis- 
cuously from  the  crowns  without  any  particular  order, 
such  as  that  noticed  in  the  shuttlecock-shapes  of  the  sets 
of  fronds  of  several  other  species  of  the  same  genus ; 
stipes  brittle,  rather  short — not  exceeding  usually  one- 
half  the  length  of  the  leafy  part — and  having  a  few  light- 
brown  scales  scattered  upon  it ;  leafy  part,  narrowly 
triangular,  or  lanceolate,  nearly,  but  not  quite,  bipinnate  ; 
pinnae  opposite  or  alternate  upon  the  rachis,  triangular, 
pinnatifid,  divided,  nearly  down  to  their  midstems, 
into  oblong,  indented  pinnules,  which  are  attached  to 
the  secondary  rachides  by  the  whole  width  of  their 
bases.    The  habit  of  the  frond  is  very  erect,  and  the 


THE  CRESTED  BUCKLER  FERN. 


arrangement  of  pinnae  and  pinnules  very  symmetrical. 
Fructification  produced  over  the  whole  under  sides  of  the 
fronds,  and  consisting  of  rows  of  sori,  one  on  each  side 
of  the  midvein  of  each  pinnule — each  sorus  covered  by  a 
kidney-shaped  indusium  in  the  earlier  stage  of  growth. 
The  indusia,  however,  fall  away  and  disappear  on  the 
ripening  of  the  spores. 

Habitats.  — Shady,  boggy  places,  oftentimes  under 
shrubs  or  trees  in  such  situations.  Though  the  habitats 
of  this  species  are  thus  marshy,  it  is  invariably  found  to 
prefer  little  mounds,  knolls,  or  other  elevations  a  few 
inches  above  the  surface  of  the  bog.  Bog  tree-stumps 
upon  which  have  accumulated  leaf-soil,  grass,  and  moss, 
are  amongst  the  favourite  places  for  the  finding  of  Lastrea 
cristata,  which,  however,  is  local  in  its  appearance,  and 
not  widely  distributed. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Chester,  Huntingdon,  Norfolk,  Nottingham,  Suffolk,  and 
York.  In  Cheshire,  it  has  been  found  in  the  Wybunbury 
Bog ;  in  Norfolk,  at  Bawsey  Heath,  near  Lynn,  near 
Dersingham,  between  Hunstanton  and  Lynn  ;  at  Edge- 
field, near  Holt ;  at  Fritton,  near  Yarmouth  ;  and  at 
Surlingham  Broad,  near  Norwich ;  in  Nottinghamshire, 
on  the  Bulwell  Marshes  and  in  Oxton  Bogs  (although 
it  may  possibly  at  the  present  time  have  become  extinct 
on  the  Bulwell  Marsh&s)  ;  in  Staffordshire,  near  Madeley, 
and  in  a  bog  in  the  vicinity  of  Newcastle-under-Lyne  ;  in 
Suffolk,  at  Bexley  Decoy,  near  Ipswich,  and  at  Westleton  ; 
in  Yorkshire,  near  Knaresborough  and  near  Malton.  It 
is  said  to  have  been  found  in  Scotland  only  in  Renfrew 
and  Wigtonshire,  and  neither  in  Wales  nor  Ireland.  It 
grows  generally  at  low  elevations  not  exceeding  three 
hundred  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


I  10 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


XXXV. — The  Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern. 
Lastrea  spinulosa. 
(Plate  VII.,  Fig.  2,  page  61.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  foot  to  three  feet. 

General  Description. — Roots  abundant,  fibrous. 
Rootstock,  a  tufted  caudex,  which  extends  into  numerous 
crowns  that  are  noticeable  by  the  absence  of  scales. 
Fronds  numerous,  triangular,  deciduous,  bipinnate,  some- 
times, in  the  lower  part  of  the  frond,  nearly  tripinnate  ; 
pinnae  more  or  less  triangular,  opposite  or  alternate  on 
the  rachis,  and  divided  into  oblong,  sharply-incised  pin- 
nules, furnished  with  spinous,  bristle-like  points  which 
are  turned  towards  the  apices  of  the  pinnules.  As  in 
the  case  of  Lastrea  dilatata  and  Lastrea  rccurva,  the  lower 
pairs  of  pinnae  are  more  developed  than  the  upper  ones, 
the  basal  pinnules  of  these  being  elongated,  and  again 
divided  into  spiny  lobes.  The  pinnje — especially  the 
lower  pairs — are  usually  pointed  upwards  in  a  direction 
diagonal  to  that  of  the  rachis.  The  stipes  is  generally 
about  the  same  length  as  the  leafy  part  of  the  frond, 
though  sometimes  longer,  and  is  brittle,  and  furnished 
near  the  base  with  a  few  light-brown  scales.  Fructifica- 
tion produced  in  rows  of  small  sori,  covered  by  kidney- 
shaped  indusia,  and  scattered  equally  over  the  under 
sides  of  the  fronds — a  row  of  sori  on  each  side  of  the 
midvein  of  each  pinnule  or  lobe  according  to  its  size 
and  position. 

Habitats. — Similar  in  all  respects  to  those  of  Lastrea 
cristata — namely,  boggy  places  of  low-lying  heaths  and 
moorlands,  especially  in  places  where,  under  the  shelter 
of  shrub  or  tree,  little  grassy  or  mossy  knolls  have  been 


THE  MOUNTAIN  BUCKLER  FERN. 


Ill 


formed  above  the  general  bog  or  marsh  level.  When 
the  boggy  soil  is  of  peat  and  leaf-mould  the  most  favour- 
able conditions  of  growth  are  provided  for  this  species. 

Where  Found.  —  InEngland,  in  the  counties  of  Bed- 
ford, Berks,  Bucks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cornwall, 
Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Dorset,  Durham,  Essex, 
Gloucester,  Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle  of  Wight), 
Hereford,  Hertford,  Huntingdon,  Kent,  Lancaster, 
Leicester,  Lincoln,  Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk, 
Northampton,  Northumberland,  Nottingham,  Oxford, 
Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex, 
Warwick,  Westmoreland,  Worcester,  and  York.  In 
Wales,  in  the  counties  of  Anglesea,  Brecknock, 
Caermarthen,  Caernarvon,  Flint,  Glamorgan,  and  Merio- 
neth. In  the  Isle  of  Man.  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties 
of  Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Edinburgh, 
Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar,  Inverness,  Kincardine,  Kinross, 
Perth,  Renfrew,  Ross,  Roxburgh,  and  Stirling.  Also  in 
the  isles  of  Harris,  Lewis,  and  Uist.  Its  range  upwards 
from  the  sea-level  does  not  extend  beyond  some  three 
hundred  feet. 


XXXVI. — The  Mountain  Buckler  Fern. 

Lastrea  nionta7ta. 

(Plate  VII.,  Fig.  i,  page  6i.) 

Length  of  Frond.— One  foot  to  four  feet  and  a  half. 
General  Description.— i?(7<7/j  abundant,  long,  wiry, 
fibrous.  Rootstock,  a  short,  stout,  tufted  cormus,  whose 
crown  is  raised  slightly  above  the  surface  of  the  ground. 
Fronds  deciduous,  abundant,  lemon-scented,  erect-grow- 
ing, produced  in  an  arrangement  shuttlecock-shape 
around  the  crown,  which  is  furnished  with  silvery-looking 
scales  in  place  of  the  rust-coloured  scales  on  the  crown 
of  the  Male  Fern,  a  species  which  Lnsirca  Montana  very 


112 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


much  resembles  in  some  other  respects  ;  stipes  very 
short,  straw-coloured— as  is  also  the  rachis — and  fur- 
nished with  a  few,  light-coloured  scales,  which  are  often 
continued  upon,  and  a  short  way  along,  the  rachis  ;  leafy 
part  lance-shaped,  widest  about  the  middle,  pointed  at 
the  apex,  and  tapering  gradually  at  the  base  until  the 
pinnse  are  less  than  half  an  inch  long ;  pinnae  opposite 
or  alternate  upon  the  rachis,  long,  narrow,  pointed,  widest 
at  the  base — each  pinna  pinnatifid  and  more  or  less 
deeply  cleft  into  oblong,  blunt-pointed  pinnules.  F)-uc- 
tification  marginal,  produced  in  lines  of  sori  along  the 
two  margins  of  each  pinnule,  most  abundant  on  the 
upper  side  of  the  frond  ;  sori  partially  indusiate,  the 
indusia  consisting  of  little  rounded  scales  situated  upon 
the  centre  of  the  sori,  and  soon  falling  off  as  the  period 
of  spore-ripening  arrives. 

Habitats.  —  Open  heaths;  moors;  the  more  open 
parts  of  woods  and  forests ;  hillsides  ;  mountain-sides ; 
streamsides.  In  many  cases  it  completely  occupies  the 
ground.  On  the  ground  between  stones  that  border 
moorland  streams  this  species  may  often  be  seen  grow- 
ing in  great  beauty  and  luxuriance.  Its  presence  is 
ordinarily  very  conspicuous — its  golden-green  fronds 
covering  hillsides  with  their  wealth  of  golden  green,  and 
perfuming  the  air  with  their  balsamic  fragrance. 

Where  Found. — YnEngland^ra  the  counties  of  Bucks, 
Chester,  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Dorset, 
Durham,  Essex,  Gloucester,  Hants  (the  mainland  and 
the  Isle  of  Wight),  Hereford,  Hertford,  Kent,  Lancaster, 
Leicester,  Lincoln,  Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk, 
Northampton,  Northumberland,  Nottingham,  Oxford, 
Rutland,  Salop,  Somerset,  Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey, 
Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmoreland,  Wilts,  AVorcester,  and 
York.  In  JFa/es,  in  the  counties  of  Anglesea,  Breck- 
nock, Caermarthen,  Caernarvon,  Cardigan,  Denbigh, 
Flint,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  Pembroke,  and  Radnor. 
In  the  Isle  of  Man.    In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of 


THE  MARSH  BUCKLER  FERN. 


Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Clack- 
mannan, Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife, 
Forfar,  Inverness,  Kincardine,  Kinross,  Lanark,  Perth, 
Renfrew,  Ross,  Roxburgh,  Stirling,  and  Sutherland ; 
also  in  the  isles  of  Arran,  Cantyre,  Islay,  Shetland,  and 
Uist.  In  Ireland,  in  the  counties  of  Clare,  Donegal, 
Galway,  Kerry,  Londonderry,  Waterford,  and  Wicklow. 
It  is  found  growing  at  various  altitudes  up  to  three 
thousand  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


XXXVII. — The  Marsh  Buckler  Fern. 
Lastrca  tJielypteris. 
(Plate  X.,  Fig.  i,  page  67.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Barren  fronds,  one  foot  to  three 
feet ;  fertile  fronds,  a  foot  to  four  feet. 

General  Description. — Roots  black,  fibrous,  abun- 
dant. Rootstock,  an  extensively-creeping  rhizoma,  slender 
and  blackish.  Fronds  of  two  kinds — barren  and  fertile 
— numerous,  light  green,  herbaceous,  brittle,  fragile ; 
stipes  about  equal  to  the  leafy  part,  very  thin,  pale  green, 
delicate,  and  brittle  ;  leafy  part  lance-shaped,  broadest  in 
the  centre,  tapering  to  a  somewhat  blunt  point  at  the 
apex,  and  tapering  slightly  towards  the  base  ;  pinnas 
opposite  or  alternate,  and  somewhat  distant  along  the 
rachis,  long,  narrow,  pointed,  broadest  at  the  base, 
pinnatifid — each  pinna  deeply  cleft  into  thin,  plain, 
oblong,  entire  pinnules.  The  pinnules  of  the  fertile 
fronds,  besides  being  longer,  are  somewhat  more  con- 
tracted than  those  of  the  barren  ones.  Friicfificatioii 
borne  in  rows  of  sori  upon  the  under  sides  of  the  pinnules, 
midway  between  their  midveins  and  their  margins,  each 
sorus  roundish  in  shape  and  covered  by  a  roundish 
indusium,  which,  however,  soon  falls  off  and  disappears. 


114 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS, 


Habitats. — Wet  marshes  and  liquid  bogs.  It  is 
especially  luxuriant  in  positions  where  shade  and  shelter 
are  provided  by  shrubs  or  trees.  No  other  British  fern 
selects  habitats  which  are  so  absolutely  watery  as  are 
those  favoured  by  the  Marsh  Buckler  Fern,  wliich  grows 
actually  in  the  soft  liquid  ooze  of  bogs,  its  rhizomas 
floating  on  the  bog  surfaces. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of  Bed- 
ford, Berks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cumberland,  Devon, 
Dorset,  Essex,  Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle  of 
Wight),  Hereford,  Huntingdon,  Kent,  Leicester,  Lincoln, 
Norfolk,  Northumberland,  Nottingham,  Salop,  Somerset, 
Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmore- 
land, and  York.  In  JVales,  in  the  counties  of  Anglesea, 
Caernarvon,  Flint,  Glamorgan,  and  Pembroke.  In 
Scotland,  only  in  the  county  of  Forfar.  In  Ireland,  in 
the  counties  of  Antrim,  Galway,  Kerry,  and  Mayo. 


XXXVIII. — The  Forked  Spleenwort. 
Asplenium  septentrionale. 
(Plate  XIV.,  Figs.  8  and  9,  page  75.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Two  to  six  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  long,  wiry,  very  fine, 
abundant,  fibrous.  Rootstock  very  small,  tufted.  Fronds 
numerous,  evergreen,  grass-like,  usually  produced  in 
dense  tufts  from  the  crown  ;  stipes  pale  green,  purplish- 
brown  at  the  base,  three  or  four  times  longer  than  the 
leafy  part,  which  consists  of  two  or  three  narrow,  simple, 
or  forked  branches  resembling  short  blades  of  grass, 
each  branch  being  either  simple  or  once  or  twice  sharply 
cleft  at  its  apex.    Fructification  borne  in  elongated  lines 


THE  FORKED  SPLEENWORT 


"5 


at  the  backs  of  the  widest  leafy  part  of  the  frond,  the 
sori  distinct  and  elongated,  and  covered  when  young  by 
elongated  indusia,  but  when  these  fall  off  becoming 
confluent  upon  nearly  the  whole  under  side  of  the  frond, 
and  turning  then  to  a  dark-brown  colour. 

Habitats. — Moist  and  shady  rocky  crevices ;  old 
walls  in  positions  sheltered  by  projecting  pieces  of  stone 
or  rock ;  dark,  moist,  shady  holes  or  recesses  in  walls  or 
rocks — hence,  generally,  this  species  is  inconspicuous, 
and  requires  to  be  carefully  sought  for. 

Where  Found. — In  Efigla?id,  in  Cornwall,  Cumber- 
land, Devon,  Northumberland,  Somerset,  Westmoreland, 
and  York ;  in  Cornwall,  near  Trengwainton  Cairn  (F.  T. 
Richards) ;  in  Cumberland,  Borrowdale,  Helvellyn, 
Honister  Crags,  Keswick,  Vale  of  Newlands,  Patterdale, 
Scawfell,  and  Wastwater ;  in  Devonshire,  on  Exmoor  ; 
in  Northumberland,  in  crevices  of  basaltic  rocks  of 
Kyloe  Crags ;  in  Somersetshire,  near  the  little  village  of 
Culbone  ;  in  the  county  of  Westmoreland,  at  Ambleside  ; 
and  in  Yorkshire,  upon  the  rocks  of  Ingleborough.  In 
Wales,  in  the  counties  of  Caernarvon,  Denbigh,  and 
Merioneth.  In  the  county  of  Caernarvon  the  habitats 
of  Asplenium  septentrionale  are  in  the  following  places  : 
Bettwys-y-Coed,  Capel  Curig,  Carnedd  Llewellyn,  Craig 
Dhu,  Pass  of  Llanberis,  Llyn-y-cwm,  Moel  Lechog,  and 
Pont-y-Pair ;  in  the  county  of  Denbigh,  rocks  at  Llan 
Dethyla  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Llanrwst.  In  Merioneth, 
at  Dolgelly  (F.  T.  Richards).  In  Scotland,  Aberdeen, 
Edinburgh,  Perth,  and  Roxburgh  ;  in  Aberdeen,  on  rocks 
at  the  Pass  of  Ballater  ;  in  the  county  of  Edinburgh,  on 
rocks  at  Arthur's  Seat,  at  Blackford  Hill,  and  on  other 
rocks  in  the  same  neighbourliood  ;  in  Perthshire,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Dunkcid  ;  and  in  Roxburghshire,  at  Jedburgh 
and  on  the  Minto  Crags.  No  habitats  of  this  species 
have  been  recorded  in  Ireland.  It  grows  at  various 
altitudes  up  to  three  thousand  feet  above  the  sea-levcl. 


ii6 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


XXXIX. — The  Alternate  Spleenwort. 
Asplenium  germanicum. 
(Plate  XIV.,  Figs.  6  and  7,  page  75.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Two  to  six  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  fibrous,  wiry,  abun- 
dant. Rootstock  small,  tufted.  Fronds  numerous,  ever- 
green, produced  in  clusters  from  the  crown  ;  stipes  pale- 
green,  purplish-brown  at  the  base,  about  equal  in  length 
to  the  leafy  part ;  smooth  ;  leafy  part  simply  pinnate, 
with  wedge-shaped  pinnae  sharply  cleft  on  their  upper 
and  broader  sides,  and  placed  in  alternation  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  rachis  to  which  they  are  attached  by  short, 
narrow  stems,  which  broaden  and  are  merged,  almost 
insensibly,  into  the  wider,  leafy  part  of  the  pinnte. 
Fmctification  borne  upon  the  under  sides  of  the  wedge- 
shaped,  leafy  parts  of  the  pinnse  in  elongated  — or 
"  linear,"  as  they  are  called — sori,  which  run  in  parallel 
directions  towards  the  terminal  points  of  the  pinnee. 
Each  elongated  sorus  is  covered  when  young  by  a  long, 
green  indusium,  and  is  then  distinct.  But  when  the 
indusia  are  ruptured  by  the  expansion,  at  ripening,  of  the 
sporangia,  they  burst  and  are  thrown  off,  and  the  sori 
become  confluent,  covering  almost  the  entire  under 
sides  of  the  pinnas  with  a  mass  of  rich,  dark-brown 
spore-cases. 

Habitats. — Rocky  crevices  similar  to  those  in  which 
Asplenium  septentrionalc  grows.  The  two  species  are 
often  found  growing  together. 

Where  Found. — In  Engla7id,  only  in  the  counties  of 
Cumberland,  Northumberland,  and  Somerset ;  in  Cum- 
berland, rocks  at  Borrowdale  and  on  Helvellyn ;  in 
Northumberland,  on  the  Kyloe  basaltic  rocks ;  and  in 


THE  RUE-LEAVED  SPLEENWORT. 


117 


Somersetshire,  at  Culbone.  In  IVales,  in  Caernarvon 
and  Merioneth  ;  in  the  former,  rocks  between  Capel 
Curig  and  Llanrwst,  and  rocks  at  the  Pass  of  Llanberis  ; 
in  Merioneth,  on  Cader  Idris  (F.  T.  Richards).  In 
Scotland,  Edinburgh,  Fife,  Perth,  and  Roxburgh,  and  in 
the  following  localities  :  in  Edinburgh,  rocks  within 
two  miles  of  the  capital ;  in  the  county  of  Fife,  rocks  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Dunfermline  ;  in  Perthshire,  the 
Stenton  Rocks  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Dunkeld  ;  in 
the  county  of  Roxburgh,  Minto  Crags  in  the  vicinity  of 
Hassendean  and  rocks  on  the  Tweed  near  Kelso.  It 
has  never  been  reported  from  Jre/and.  Aspleniuin 
germaiiiciDii  grows  at  elevations  above  the  sea-level 
extending  from  some  three  hundred  to  three  thousand 
feet. 


XL. — The  Rue-leaved  Spleenwort. 
Asplenium  rjtta-muraria. 
(Plate  XIII.,  Figs.  8  and  9,  page  73.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  inch  to  six  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots 'a.w^,  wiry,  fibrous,  and 
very  abundant,  growing  oftentimes  in  a  dense  mass. 
Rootstock  short,  thick,  compact,  tufted.  Fronds  ever- 
green, leathery,  dark-green,  shining,  numerous,  produced 
sometimes  in  thick  tufts  from  the  crown,  which  is  always 
elevated  a  little  above  the  surface  of  the  rock  or  earthy 
seam  of  soil  upon  which  it  is  growing;  stipes  smooth, 
green,  purplish-black  at  the  base,  equal  in  length  to, 
or  double  the  length  of,  the  leafy  part,  or  intermediate 
between  these  lengths;  leafy  part  more  or  less  triangular, 
bipinnatc  ;  pinnae  stalked,  alternate  upon  the  rachis  and 
divided,  usually,  into  three  wedge-shaped,  egg-shaped,  or 


ii8 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


diamond-shaped  pinnules,  which,  in  luxuriant  specimens 
are  sometimes  deeply  cleft  into  unequally-shaped  lobes, 
and  where  the  pinnules  are  not  thus  divided  their  upper 
and  broader  edges  are  more  or  less  conspicuously  in- 
dented. Fructification  borne  in  elongated  sori,  covered, 
when  young,  by  pale-green  indusia.  ^Vhen  they  have 
become  disrupted  and  thrown  off  the  sori,  by  the  en- 
largement of  the  sporangia,  become  confluent  and  cover 
the  entire  under  surface  of  the  fronds^  turning  them  to  a 
rich  reddish-brown. 

Habitats. — Rocks,  brick  and  stone  walls,  bridge- 
arches  and  old  masonry,  in  shaded  positions ;  but  this 
fern  often  grows  hardily  in  the  sunshine.  The  parts  of 
walls  and  rocks  selected  by  these  little  ferns  are  gene- 
rally those  where  there  are  more  or  less  moist  seams  of 
earth  or  old  crumbling  mortar,  and  it  will  always  be 
found  that  the  most  luxuriant  specimens  of  the  Wall 
Rue  are  those  whose  crowns  are  protected  by  some 
jutting  portion  of  stone  over  them.  When  the  crowns 
of  this  little  plant  are  immersed  in  rocky  crevices,  so 
that,  though  not  buried  in  the  earthy  seams,  the  mois- 
ture and  shade  of  the  crevices  surround  and  protect 
them  from  the  desiccating  effects  of  sun  and  wind,  they 
are  in  the  most  favourable  position  for  developing  luxu- 
riant fronds. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Bedford,  Berks,  Bucks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cornwall, 
Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Dorset,  Durham,  Essex, 
Gloucester,  Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle  of  Wight), 
Hereford,  Hertford,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Leicester,  Lincoln, 
Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk,  Northampton,  North- 
umberland, Nottingham,  Oxford,  Rutland,  Salop,  Somer- 
set, Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Warwick,  West- 
moreland, Wilts,  Worcester,  and  York.  In  1  Vales,  in 
the  counties  of  Anglesea,  Cardigan,  Caermarthen, 
Caernarvon,  Denbigh,  Plint,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth, 
Montgomery,  Pembroke,  and  Radnor.    In  Scotland,  in 


THE  BLACK.  MAIDENHAIR  SPLEENWORT.  II9 


the  counties  of  Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr,  Banff,  Ber- 
wick, Caithness,  Claclcmannan,  Cromarty,  Dumbarton, 
Dumfries,  Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar,  Haddington, 
Inverness,  Kincardine,  Kinross,  Kirkcudbright,  Lanark, 
Linlithgow,  Nairn,  Orkney,  Peebles,  Perth,  Renfrew, 
Roxburgh,  Selkirk,  Stirling,  and  Sutherland ;  also  in 
the  islands  of  Ailsa  Craig,  Cantyre,  Harris,  lona,  Islay, 
and  Uist.  In  Irelaiid,  in  the  counties  of  Armagh,  Clare, 
Cork,  Down,  Dublin,  Galway,  Kerry,  and  Kilkenny ;  in 
King's  County,  Limerick,  Louth,  Tipperary,  Waterford, 
and  Wicklow.  It  is  also  found  in  Jersey.  Asplenhim 
riita-muraria  grows  at  elevations  extending  to  about 
two  thousand  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


XLI. — The  Black  Maidenhair  Spleenwort. 
Asplemiiin  adianitcm-iiigriim. 
(Plate  III.,  page  53.) 

Length  of  Frond. — An  inch  to  two  feet,  according 
to  its  more  or  less  exposed,  sunny  and  stony,  or  sheltered, 
shady,  moist,  and  in  other  ways  congenial  position. 

General  Description. — Roots  long,  fibrous,  wiry, 
abundant.  Rootstock  small,  tufted,  scaly.  Fronds  ever- 
green, numerous ;  stipes  and  rachis  more  or  less  purple  ; 
stipes  equal  in  length  to  the  leafy  part,  sometimes  a  little 
shorter,  and  sometimes  a  little  longer ;  leafy  part  trian- 
gular, dark  shining-green,  with  alternated,  triangular 
pinnae,  divided  into  narrow,  elongated,  and  variously- 
shaped  pinnules,  which,  in  turn,  are  sub-divided  into  more 
or  less  deeply-indented  lobes — the  ultimate  divisions 
depending  upon  the  more  or  less  luxuriant  state  of  the 
plant.  Fructification  produced  in  the  form  of  elongated 
sori  covered  by  elongated,  pale-green  indusia.  When 


I20 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


these  fall  off,  the  sori,  become  confluent  and  densely 
cover  the  whole  under  side  of  the  frond. 

Habitats. — AValls  of  all  kinds,  more  or  less  old,  brick 
and  stone;  ruins,  bridge-arches,  garden  and  house  walls, 
and,  indeed,  every  description  of  masonry — the  luxuri- 
ance of  the  plants  depending  upon  the  greater  or  less 
accumulation  of  leaf-mould  in  the  moist  holes  or  seams 
of  soil  in  rock  or  wall,  and  upon  the  greater  or  less 
amount  of  shade  or  moisture  of  the  position.  Stony 
banks,  or  soil  covered  by  large  or  small  pieces  of  stone, 
such  as  hedgebanks,  streambanks,  or  the  banks  formed 
by  cuttings  through  hilly,  rocky,  or  moorland  country, 
are  also  the  favoured  habitats  of  this  beautiful  species. 
Where,  on  such  banks,  shrubs,  growing  from  betv.'een 
the  stones,  give  shelter,  and,  at  the  same  time,  provide 
— by  the  annual  deposit  of  leaves — for  the  enrichment 
of  the  soil,  Asple7iiiim  adiatitiwi-fiigrufii  grows  in  its 
finest  form. 

Where  Found. — In  Ejigland,  in  the  counties  of 
Bedford,  Berks,  Bucks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cornwall, 
Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Dorset,  Durham,  Essex, 
Gloucester,  Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle  of  Wight), 
Hereford,  Hertford,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Leicester,  Lincoln, 
Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk,  Northampton,  Northum- 
berland, Nottingham,  Oxford,  Rutland,  Salop,  Somerset, 
Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmore- 
land, Wilts,  Worcester,  and  York.  In  JVales,  in  the 
counties  of  Anglesea,  Caermarthen,  Caernarvon,  Car- 
digan, Denbigh,  Flint,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  Mont- 
gomery, Pembroke,  and  Radnor.  In  the  Isle  of  Man. 
In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr, 
Banff,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Clackmannan,  Cromarty, 
Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar, 
Haddington,  Inverness,  Kincardine,  Kinross,  Kirkcud- 
bright, Lanark,  Linlithgow,  Nairn,  Orkney,  Perth,  Ren- 
frew, Ross,  Roxburgh,  Selkirk,  and  Sutherland ;  also 
in  the  islands  of  Ailsa  Craig,  Arran,  Cantyre,  Harris, 


THE  LANCEOLATE  SPLEENWORT. 


121 


lona,  and  Islay.  In  Irelafid,  in  the  counties  of 
Antrim,  Clare,  Cork,  Down,  Dublin,  Galway,  Kerry, 
and  Kilkenny ;  in  King's  County,  Limerick,  Louth, 
Meath,  Tipperary,  Waterford,  and  Wicklow ;  also  in 
the  Arran  Isles.  It  is  found  growing  at  various  eleva- 
tions extending  up  to  nearly  two  thousand  feet  about 
the  sea-level. 


XLII. — The  Lanceolate  Spleenwort. 
AsploiiiDii  laiiceolatuni. 
(Plate  XIII.,  Figs.  2  and  3,  page  73.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Four  to  eighteen  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  long,  fibrous,  wiry, 
abundant.  Rootstock  somewhat  large,  dark  brown,  scaly, 
tufted.  Fronds  evergreen,  lance-shaped  (distinguished 
by  this  feature  from  the  triangular  fronds  of  Asplc7iinm 
adiafituin-nigrum,  which  it  otherwise  resembles)  ;  stipes 
a  third  the  length  of  the  leafy  part  and  sometimes  less 
in  proportion,  purplish  red  in  colour,  the  same  hue 
being  noticeable,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  on  the 
rachis  ;  leafy  part  bright  green,  bipinnate  ;  pinnje 
opposite  or  alternate  on  the  rachis,  narrowly  triangular, 
divided  into  alternate  and — in  well-developed  specimens 
— distinctly  stalked,  fan-shaped,  or  four-sided  and  in- 
dented pinnules.  Fructiflcaiion  produced  over  the 
entire  under  surface  of  the  frond,  and  consisting  of  sori 
which,  though  elongated — as  in  the  Spleenworts  gene- 
rally— are  less  elongated  than  those  of  Asplcnium 
adianium-nigrum.  When  the  indusia  fall  off,  the  sori 
become  rounded  in  form  and  somewhat  bulged  out  as 
the  sporangia  increase  by  development ;  but  each  sorus 
ordinarily  remains  distinct  from  the  others,  and  thus 
presents  another  feature  which  distinguishes  this  species 


122 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


from  Asplenium  adiantuiii-nignim^  the  sori  in  which 
ordinarily  become  confluent. 

Habitats. — Shady  positions  on  or  near  the  sea-coast; 
moist  and  dripping  rocks  ;  the  shady  sides  of  cliffs  ;  sea- 
caverns  ;  rocky  holes,  oftentimes  almost  dark.  This 
species  is  especially  luxuriant  in  places  where  water 
oozes  or  trickles  over  the  face  of  cliff  or  other  rock,  or 
along  the  internal  sides  of  caverns,  crevices,  or  other 
holes  or  fissures  of  rocks.  Soft  rock  seamed  with 
vegetable  mould  offers,  where  the  aspect  and  atmosphere 
are  congenial,  especially  favourite  habitats  for  the 
Lanceolate  Spleenwort. 

Where  Found. — In  Englatid,  in  the  counties  of 
Cornwall,  Devon,  Gloucester,  Kent,  Somerset,  Sussex, 
and  Yorkshire.  Amongst  its  habitats  in  Cornwall  are 
sea-rocks,  or  rocks  adjacent  to  the  sea-coast,  at  Land's 
End,  Penzance,  and  St.  Ives.  In  Devonshire,  along  the 
rivers  Dart,  Plym,  Tamar,  and  Tavy,  especially  near  and 
at  the  mouths  of  those  rivers.  On  the  south-eastern  sea- 
coast  of  Devon,  especially  from  Portlemouth  to  Prawle 
Point  and  at  Salcombe.  The  Yorkshire  habitat  of 
Asplenium  lanceolatiun  is  a  newly-found  one,  and  its 
discovery  was  first  communicated  to  the  author  of  this 
volume  by  the  Rev.  R.  Catty,  of  Bradfield  Rectory,  who 
kindly  furnished  fronds  from  the  specimens  he  had 
taken  in  this  northern  county.  In  JVa/es,  in  the  counties 
of  Caernarvon,  Denbigh,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  and 
Pembroke.  No  habitats  of  this  species  have  been 
discovered  in  Scotland,  and  only  one  in  Ireland,  namely, 
near  the  town  of  Cork.  It  is,  however,  abundant  in 
Jersey,  in  Guernsey,  and  in  Sark. 


THE  ROCK  SPLEENWORT.  1 23 


XLIII. — The  Rock  Spleenwort. 

Asplenium  fonianum, 
(Plate  XIII.,  Figs.  6  and  7,  page  73.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Three  inches  to  a  foot,  the 
maximum  length  given  being,  however,  exceptional. 

General  Description. — i?i7i?/'j fibrous,  wiry,  abundant. 
Rootstock  small,  tufted,  erect.  Fronds  numerous,  stiff, 
evergreen,  narrowly  lance-shaped  ;  stipes  purplish-black, 
very  short,  the  leafy  pinnse  being  continued  almost 
close  to  the  crown,  leaving  oftentimes  no  more  than 
half  an  inch  of  clear  stipes ;  leafy  part  pinnate,  light 
green,  pointed  at  the  apex,  broadest  near  its  centre,  and 
diminishing  downwards;  pinnae  opposite  or  alternate 
upon  the  rachis,  very  short,  either  triangular  or  egg-shaped, 
and  either  sharply  indented  or — in  large  specimens — 
again  divided  into  somewhat  four-sided,  indented 
pinnules.  Fructification  produced  in  sori  which  are 
slightly  oblong,  and  are  covered  by  slightly-oblong  in- 
dusia.  When  these  fall  off,  the  sori  frequently  become 
rounder  and  confluent,  though  they  are  perhaps  as 
frequently  distinct  from  each  other. 

Habitats. — Moist,  shady  fissures  of  rocks,  and 
crevices  of  walls ;  sea-cliffs  and  sea-caves.  This  species 
grows  under  very  much  the  same  conditions,  and  in 
very  much  the  same  positions,  as  Asplenium  laiiceolatum. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  only  in  the  counties  of 
Derby,  Dorset,  Hants,  Northumberland,  Westmoreland, 
and  York.  In  Derbyshire,  near  Matlock ;  in  Dorset- 
shire, in  the  Swanage  Cave,  Isle  of  Purbeck  ;  in  Hamp- 
shire, near  Petersfield  ;  in  Northumberland,  near  Alnwick 
Castle ;  in  Westmoreland,  near  Wybourn.     In  York- 

K 


124 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


shire,  in  Wharncliffe  Wood.  In  Wales,  only  in  the 
county  of  Caernarvon,  between  Tan-y-Bwlch  and 
Tremadoc.  In  Scotland,  only  in  Kincardineshire,  on 
rocks  in  the  vicinity  of  Stonehaven.  In  Ireland,  it  has 
been  found  at  Cavehill,  near  Belfast. 


XLIV. — The  Green  Spleenwort. 

Asplenium  viride. 
(Plate  XIV.,  Figs  4  and  5,  page  75.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Two  to  ten  inches. 

General  Description. — fibrous,  wiry,  abundant, 
Rootstock  small,  tufted.  Fronds  numerous,  evergreen, 
produced  in  tufts  from  the  crown,  narrow,  tapering, 
broadest  about  the  centre,  simply  pinnate  ;  stipes  rather 
short,  green,  purplish  at  the  base ;  rachis  also  green ; 
pinnaj  light  green,  opposite  or  alternate,  attached  to  the 
rachis  by  very  short  but  distinct  stalks,  roundish-oblong 
in  shape,  finely  indented  upon  their  margins,  usually 
largest  about  the  centre,  diminishing  in  size  towards 
the  apex  and  towards  the  base  of  the  frond.  This  species 
bears  a  strong  general  resemblance  to  its  much  more 
common  and  widely-distributed  congener  Aspletiimn 
trichomafies ;  but  the  especial  and  immediate  mark  of 
distinction  lies  in  the  colour  of  the  stipes  and  of  the 
lower  part  of  the  rachis,  a  colour  which  in  Asplenium 
viride  is  always  green — except  at  the  base  of  the  stipes — 
and  in  Aspleniwn  trichonianes  always  purple.  Fructifica- 
tion produced  in  narrow,  oblong  sori,  covered  by  indusia, 
and  occupying  nearly  the  centre  of  each  little  pinna,  be- 
coming confluent  about  the  centre  of  the  pinnae  when 
the  indusia  have  fallen  away,  and  not  spreading,  as  is 


THE  GREEN  SPLEENWORT. 


usually  the  case  with  the  fructification  of  the  Common 
Maidenhair  Spleenwort,  on  the  entire  leafy  under  sides. 

Habitats. — Wild  outlying  districts,  away,  ordinarily, 
from  the  immediate  vicinity  of  towns ;  rocks  where 
trickling  moisture  can  flow  over  the  crowns  of  these 
little  plants.  The  most  moist  and  shady  of  rocky  crevices 
are  the  favoured  habitats. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Chester,  Cumberland,  Derby,  Durham,  Lancaster, 
Leicester,  Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Northumberland, 
Stafford,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Westmoreland,  Worcester,  and 
York.  The  particular  localities  in  these  counties  are 
the  following,  which  will  be  mentioned  in  the  alpha- 
betical order,  first  of  the  counties  and  then  of  the  dis- 
tricts, in  or  near  which  this  species  is  found.  In 
Cheshire,  Carr-edge ;  in  the  county  of  Cumberland, 
Ashness  Gill,  Borrowdale,  Borrow  Force  (a  "  force  "  is 
the  north-country  name  of  a  waterfall),  and  Gillsland  ; 
in  Derbyshire,  Buxton,  Castleton,  Cavedale,  and  Dove- 
dale  ;  in  Durham,  Falcon  Clints,  Teesdale,  and  Wear- 
dale  ;  in  Kent,  Maidstone ;  in  the  county  of  Lancaster, 
Dulesgatc  and  Staley;  in  Leicestershire,  Beacon  Hill 
and  Charley  Forest  ;  in  Middlesex,  Southgate ;  in  the 
county  of  Northumberland,  banks  of  the  River  Irthing  ; 
in  Staffordshire,  Dovedale ;  in  the  county  of  Surrey, 
Mickleham  ;  in  Sussex,  Danny;  in  Westmoreland,  Am- 
bleside, Arnside,  Casterton  Fell,  Farlton,  Hutton  Roof, 
Kendal  Fell,  Mazebec  Scar,  and  Patterdalc  ;  in  Wor- 
cestershire, Ham  Bridge ;  in  Yorkshire,  Aix-la-Beck, 
Craven,  Gordalc,  Leeds,  Ogden  Clough  (in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Halifax),  Inglcborough,  Rccth  Moor, 
Richmond,  Settle,  Svvaledale,  Wensleydale,  and  Wid- 
dal  Fell.  In  Wales,  in  the  counties  of  Brecknock, 
Caernarvon,  Glamorgan,  and  Merioneth ;  and  in  the 
following  localities  in  those  counties :  in  Brecknock- 
shire, Brecon  Beacon,  and  Trecastle  Beacon  (Brecon), 
Capel  Colbren,  and  Capcl-y-Fin  j  in  the  county  of  Caer- 

K  2 


126 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


narvon,  Clogwyn-y-Garnedd,  Clogwyn-du-Yrarddu,  Cwm 
Idwal,  Glyder  Vawr,  Glyn-y-Cwm,  and  Twll-du  ;  in  the 
county  of  Glamorgan,  Cilhepste  Waterfall  (Pont  Nedd 
Vechan),  Darran-yr-Ogof,  Merthyr  Tydfil,  and  Ystrad- 
gunlais ;  in  the  county  of  Merioneth,  Cader  Idris.  In 
Scotland,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr, 
Clackmannan,  Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Edinburgh,  Elgin, 
Fife,  Forfar,  Inverness,  Kinross,  Lanark,  Linlithgow, 
Nairn,  Perth,  Ross,  Stirling,  and  Sutherland.  The 
following  are  some  of  the  localities  in  those  counties  : 
in  Argyleshire,  Dunoon ;  in  the  county  of  Dumfries, 
Mare's-tail ;  in  Forfarshire,  Canlochen,  Clova ;  in  Lan- 
arkshire, falls  of  the  Clyde  ;  in  the  county  of  Nairn, 
Cawdor  Woods ;  in  Perthshire,  Ben  Chonzie  (Crieff), 
Ben  Lawers,  Ben  Voirlich,  Blair  Athol,  and  Drummond 
Hill ;  in  Sutherlandshire,  Assynt ;  also  in  the  Shetland 
Isles  and  the  Isle  of  Mull.  In  Irela7id,  in  the  counties 
of  Cork,  Donegal,  Killarney,  Kerry,  and  Sligo.  Sub- 
joined are  the  parts  of  those  counties  :  in  Cork,  Bandon  ; 
in  Donegal,  Lough  Eask ;  in  Kerry,  Tork  Mountains  ; 
and  in  Sligo,  Ben  Bulben.  It  occurs  at  various  alti- 
tudes up  to  two  thousand  five  hundred  feet  above  the 
sea-level. 


XLV. — The  Common  Maidenhair  Spleenwort. 
Asplenium  trichomanes. 
(Plate  XIV.,  Figs.  2  and  3,  page  75.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Two  to  eighteen  inches,  the 
maximum  length  being  very  exceptional. 

General  Description. — Roots  fibrous,  long,  abun- 
dant, wiry.  Rootstock  somewhat  large  for  the  size  of  the 
plant,  tufted.    Fronds  evergreen,  produced  in  numerous 


THE  COMMON  MAIDENHAIR  SPLEENWORT. 


127 


tufts  from  the  crown,  tapering^  widest  about  the  middle, 
tapering  at  each  end,  simply  pinnate,  stipes  very  short, 
wholly  purple  ;  rachis  also  purple,  in  this  respect  being 
distinguished  from  Asple7iium  viride,  which  is  much  like 
it  in  other  respects.  Pinnce  deep  green,  small,  oval, 
entire,  oj^posite  or  alternate  on  the  rachis,  usually  in 
opposite  or  nearly  opposite  pairs,  seldom  reaching  a 
quarter  of  an  inch  in  length.  Fructification  produced  in 
oblong  sori,  covered  by  oblong  indusia.  When  these 
fall  off,  the  sporangia  become  confluent  over  the  entire 
under  surfaces  of  the  pinnae — in  this  respect  also  differ- 
ing from  Aspleniuin  viride,  whose  sporangia,  when  they 
become  confluent,  occupy  only  the  centre  of  the  pinnae, 
leaving  a  green,  leafy  margin  around  them. 

Habitats. — Rocks,  walls,  and  old  masonry  of  all 
kinds,  especially  where,  in  the  crevices  which  may  have 
been  formed,  leaf-soil  has  accumulated  and  moisture 
has  entered.  Hence  rocks  or  stony  places  by  running 
streams,  bridge-arches,  stone  parapets,  dwelling-house 
and  garden-walls,  out-buildings,  cliffs,  and  stony  em- 
bankments of  all  kinds.  On  the  drier  sides  of  such 
habitats  it  is  often  stunted  and  puny,  whilst  on  the 
shady,  moist,  crumbling  surfaces  of  rock  or  wall  it 
becomes  much  larger.  In  hedge  and  other  embank- 
ments, M'here  the  surface  is  sheltered  by  shrubs  and  the 
soil  is  rich — especially  where  its  roots  are  snugly  en- 
sconced under  fragments  of  stone  which  may  lie  upon 
the  face  of  an  incline — this  species  assumes  its  finest  and 
most  luxuriant  proportions.  But  such  fine  specimens 
require,  ordinarily,  to  be  sought  for,  as,  hid  beneath  the 
friendly  shelter  of  the  superincumbent  bushes,  which 
promote  the  shadiness,  the  moisture,  and  the  richness  of 
soil  of  their  habitats,  they  are  not  conspicuous,  and  are 
often  entirely  concealed  from  the  passer-by. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Bedford,  Berks,  Bucks,  Cambridge,  Chester,  Cornwall, 
Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Dorset,  Durham,  Essex, 


128 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Gloucester,  Hants  (the  mainland  and  the  Isle  of  Wight), 
Hereford,  Hertford,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Leicester,  Lincoln, 
Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk,  Northampton,  Northum- 
berland, Nottingham,  Oxford,  Rutland,  Salop,  Somerset, 
Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmore- 
land, Wilts,  Worcester,  and  York.  In  Wales,  in  the 
counties  of  Anglesea,  Brecknock,  Caermarthen,  Caer- 
narvon, Denbigh,  Flint,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  Mont- 
gomery, Pembroke,  and  Radnor.  In  the  Isle  of  Man. 
In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen,  Argyle, 
Ayr,  Banff,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Clackmannan,  Cro- 
marty, Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife, 
Forfar,  Haddington,  Inverness,  Kincardine,  Kinross, 
Kirkcudbright,  Lanark,  Linlithgow,  Nairn,  Orkney, 
Peebles,  Perth,  Renfrew,  Ross,  Roxburgh,  Selkirk, 
Stirling,  and  Sutherland  ;  also  in  the  islands  of  Arran, 
Bute,  Cantyre,  Islay,  and  Harris.  In  Ireland,  in  the 
counties  of  Antrim,  Clare,  Cork,  Down,  Dublin,  Galway, 
Kerry,  and  Kilkenny ;  in  King's  County,  Limerick, 
Louth,  Tipperary,  Tyrone,  and  Wicklow.  In  the  Channel 
Islands.  It  grows  at  various  heights,  extending  to  some 
two  thousand  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


XLVI. — The  Sea  Spleenwort. 

Asplefttum  marinum. 
(Plate  X.,  Figs.  4  and  5,  page  67.) 

Length  of  Frond. — Two  to  eighteen  inches,  the 
maximum  length  being  exceptional. 

General  Description. — Roots  fibrous,  rather  fleshy, 
and  abundant.  Rootstock  stout,  erect,  tufted,  with 
scales  upon  its  crown.  Fronds  evergreen,  lance-shaped, 
leathery,  shining,  simply  pinnate ;  stipes  smooth,  purple, 


THE  SEA  SPLEENWORT. 


129 


about  half  the  length  of  the  leafy  part,  and  sometimes 
shorter  than  that ;  rachis  often  purple,  sometimes  purple 
on  the  lower  part  and  green  higher  up;  leafy  part  widest 
about  the  middle,  tapering  to  a  blunt  point  at  the  apex, 
and  tapering  generally,  but  not  always,  by  the  diminution 
of  the  pinnae  towards  the  base  ;  pinnas  in  opposite  pairs, 
or  alternate  upon  the  rachis,  indented,  wing-shaped,  or 
ear-shaped,  ordinarily  attached  by  their  narrow,  stalk- 
like bases  to  narrow,  leafy  margins  or  wings,  which  run 
along  on  each  side  of  the  rachis.  Fi'iictification  pro- 
duced in  elongated  sori,  covered  by  elongated  indusia, 
and  placed  diagonally  between  the  midveins  and  the 
margins  of  the  pinnae.  Though  generally,  even  when 
ripened,  distinct,  the  lines  of  sori  become  sometimes 
confluent — turning  to  a  rich  brown,  which  conspicuously 
contrasts  with  the  deep  green  of  the  pinnae. 

H.\BiTATS. — Sea-caverns  ;  cliffs  or  other  rocks  in  or 
very  near  the  sea.  It  is  very  rarely  that  this  fern  is 
found  growing  far  from  the  coast,  though  it  not  un- 
frequently  is  found  of  a  more  or  less  diminutive  size  upon 
rocks  in  tidal  rivers  several  miles  from  the  sea.  Its 
favourite  positions  are  moist  and  shady  crevices  of  the 
open  sides  of  cliffs,  especially  in  situations  where  water 
oozes  through  such  crevices  or  trickles  down  the  out- 
ward face  of  the  rock.  Shady  clefts,  formed  by  jutting 
pieces  of  rock,  moist  corners  at  the  entrance  to  cliff 
hollows  or  caverns  ;  cavern  roofs  ;  rocks  detached  from 
the  coast  and  surrounded  by  the  sea.  These  and  the 
under  sides  of  rocks  overhanging  the  mouths  of  tidal 
rivers  and  similar  rocks  further  inland  are,  one  and  all, 
favoured  habitats  of  Asplcnmin  innrmnvi. 

Where  Found. — In  E/ig/atid,  on  the  coasts  of  the 
counties  of  Chester,  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Devon, 
Dorset,  Durham,  Gloucester  (banks  of  the  Severn), 
Hants  (the  Isle  of  Wight),  Lancaster,  Northumberland, 
Somerset,  Sussex,  Westmoreland,  and  York.  In  JVaks, 
on  the  coasts  of  the  counties  of  Anglesea,  Caermarthen, 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Caernarvon,  Cardigan,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  and 
Pembroke.  On  the  coasts  of  the  Isle  of  Man.  In 
Scotland,  on  the  coasts  of  the  counties  of  Aberdeen, 
Argyle,  Ayr,  Banff,  Berwick,  Caithness,  Cromarty,  Dum- 
barton, Edinburgh,  Elgin,  Fife,  Forfar,  Kincardine, 
Kinross,  Kirkcudbright,  Linlithgow,  Nairn,  Orkney, 
Perth,  Renfrew,  Ross,  Stirling,  Sutherland,  and  Wigton. 
Also  on  the  coasts  of  the  isles  of  Ailsa  Craig,  Cantj're, 
Harris,  lona,  Islay,  Lewis,  and  Uist.  In  Ireland,  on  the 
coasts  of  the  counties  of  Clare,  Cork,  Down,  Dublin, 
Galway,  Kerry,  Limerick,  Louth,  A¥aterford,  and  Wick- 
low  :  also  on  the  coasts  of  the  isles  of  Arran.  It  is 
also  found  on  the  coasts  of  Jersey  and  Guernsey. 


XLVII. — The  Scaly  Spleenwort. 

Asplenium  ceterach. 
(Plate  XIII.,  Figs.  4  and  5,  page  73.) 

Length  of  Frond. — An  inch  to  eight  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  long,  fibrous,  wirj'-, 
very  abundant,  oftentimes  forming  dense  masses.  Root- 
stock  tufted,  scaly.  Fronds  not  numerous,  thick,  leather}', 
evergreen,  produced  in  an  irregular  circle  around  the 
crown ;  pinnatifid ;  stipes,  very  short,  scaly ;  leafy  part 
lance-shaped,  and,  though  generally  pinnatifid,  sometimes 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  frond  partially  pinnate — the  deep, 
wide  indentations  and  the  lobes  formed  by  them  being 
rounded  and  waved  on  each  side  of  the  rachis  in  a 
manner  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  a  large  saw.  The 
upper  surface  of  the  leafy  part  is  bluish-green  and 
velvety  to  the  touch,  and  the  whole  under-surface  is 
densely  covered  by  light  reddish-brown  or  rust-coloured 
scales.    Fnictificatio7i  produced  in  irregularly-elongated 


THE  SCALY  SPLEENWORT.  '  131 

sori,  which  are  ordinarily  quite  hidden  by  the  clothing 
of  the  scales,  and  which  have  imperfect  and  partially- 
developed  indusia.  \ 

Habitats. — Rocks,  old  walls,  and  all  kinds  of  old  and 
crumbling  masonry ;  bridge-arches,  house  and  garden 
walls,  and  stony  embankments.  It  grows  from  the  moist, 
shady  seams  of  its  stony  habitats,  being  more  or  less 
luxuriant  according  to  the  more  or  less  congenial  con- 
dition of  the  habitats — leaf-mould  in  the  crevices  of  rock 
or  wall,  caused  by  the  fall  and  decay  of  leaves  from  over- 
arching trees,  and  a  certain  amount  of  moisture,  being 
conducive  to  vigour  and  luxuriance.  The  proof  that  it 
is  chiefly  leaf-mould  and  not  "  old  mortar  " — as  is  so 
frequently  alleged— that  promotes  the  luxuriant  growth 
of  this  fern  is  found  in  the  circumstance  that  when  the 
walls  or  rocks  on  which  it  is  growing  are  under  trees  the 
finest  specimens  are  those  amongst  loose  stones  on  the 
tops  of  such  walls  or  rocks,  these  being  precisely  the 
positions  in  which  there  are  naturally  the  largest  accu- 
mulations of  leaf-mould  from  falling  leaves. 

Where  Found. — In  England,  in  the  counties  of 
Bucks,  Chester,  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon, 
Dorset,  Essex,  Gloucester,  Hants  (the  mainland  and  the 
Isle  of  Wight),  Hereford,  Hertford,  Kent,  Lancaster, 
Middlesex,  Monmouth,  Norfolk,  Northampton,  North- 
umberland, Nottingham,  Oxford,  Salop,  Somerset, 
Stafford,  Suffolk,  Surrey,  Sussex,  Warwick,  Westmore- 
land, Wilts,  Worcester,  and  York.  In  Wales,  in  the 
counties  of  Anglesea,  Brecknock,  Caermarthen,  Caer- 
narvon, Cardigan,  Denbigh,  Glamorgan,  Merioneth, 
Montgomery,  and  Pembroke.  In  Scotland,  in  the 
counties  of  Argyle,  Ayr,  Berwick,  Dumfries,  Kirkcud- 
bright, Lanark,  Perth,  and  Renfrew.  In  Ireland,  in  the 
counties  of  Antrim,  Clare,  Cork,  Down,  Dublin,  Galway, 
Kerry,  Kilkenny,  Limerick,  Louth,  Sligo,  Tipperary 
Waterford,  and  Wicklow.    In  Jersey. 


132 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


XLVIII. — The  Tunbridge  Filmy  Fern. 
Hymenophylhiin  tunb7-idgense. 
(Plate  XV.,  Fig.  5,  page  77.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  to  six  inches,  the  maxi- 
mum length  being  exceptional. 

General  Description. — Roots  very  fine,  fibrous, 
wiry,  and  abundant.  Rootsiock,  a  very  slender,  hairlike 
rhizoma,  which  branches  and  creeps  extensively,  forming 
oftentimes,  with  the  roots,  a  dense,  matted  network,  that 
extends  for  several  yards — the  interwoven  fibres  making 
a  mass  that  may  be  stripped  off  like  a  thick  carpet  from 
the  surface  of  the  rock  upon  which  they  have  spread. 
Fronds  evergreen,  ovate,  and  peculiar  in  conformation. 
The  stipes  is  brownish-black  and  hairlike,  the  rachis 
continuing  it  being  of  similar  texture,  size,  and  colour. 
From  each  side  of  the  rachis,  in  alternation,  are 
secondary  forked  rachides,  similar  in  character  to,  but 
somewhat  more  delicate  than,  the  stipes  and  primary 
rachis.  The  whole  of  the  black,  vein-like  rachides  are 
margined  on  either  side  by  semi-pellucid,  olive-green, 
finely-toothed,  leaf-like  expansions — each  side-branch  or 
pinna  looking  somewhat  like  the  spread  fingers  of  a 
hand.  Fructification  borne  not  on  the  under  sides  of  the 
leafy  parts  of  the  frond,  as  is  the  case  with  the  large 
majority  of  ferns,  but  in  little  cup-shaped  indusia,  situated 
upon  aborted  veins,  which  branch  from  tlie  secondary 
rachides  near  where  these  make  angles  with  the  main 
rachis  on  either  side  of  the  latter.  The  upper  margins  of 
the  indusia  are  fringed  (see  page  18,  left-hand  figure). 

Habitats. — The  damp  surfaces  of  rocks  in  moist 
moorland  or  mountainous  country.  Hyinenophyllum 
titnbridgense  is  oftentimes  found  growing  in  company 


THE  TUNBRIDGE  FILMY  FERN.  X^^SS 

with  mosses  either  on  rocks,  on  tree-trunks,  or  on  the 
ground.  It  is  also  found  on  boulder  rocks  in  mid- 
stream, and  generally  in  or  near  streams,  on  rock- 
covered  hills  or  uplands  within  the  influence  of  the 
moist  emanations  from  neighbouring  streams  ;  and  the 
hollows,  crevices,  or  sides  of  waterfalls  are  favourite 
habitats,  this  species  often  growing  almost  in  darkness  in 
rocky  fissures,  whose  external  and  frequently  internal 
sides  it  completely  drapes.  A  very  slight  depth  of 
earth  suffices  for  root-room,  and  oftentimes  the  carpet 
of  its  matted  roots  and  rhizomas  appears  to  cover 
nothing  but  the  moist  surface  of  bare  rocks. 

Where  Found. — In  Engla/id,  in  the  counties  of 
Chester,  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Derby,  Devon,  Kent, 
Lancaster,  Northumberland,  Somerset,  Stafford,  Sussex, 
Westmoreland,  and  York.  The  following  are  the  espe- 
cial localities  for  this  species  in  the  counties  named. 
In  the  county  of  Chester  :  the  neighbourhood  of  Buxton, 
Croydon  Brook,  and  Macclesfield.  In  Cornwall,  Rough 
Tor,  near  Camelford,  and  the  vicinity  of  Penryn.  In 
Devonshire,  on  Dartmoor,  namely,  at  Becky  Fall  (near 
Moreton  Hampstead),  in  Bickleigh  Vale,  by  Shaugh 
Bridge,  on  Staple  Tor,  and  on  Vixen  Tor.  In  Kent, 
vicinity  of  Tunbridge  Wells.  In  the  county  of  Lancaster, 
Cliviger,  Conistone,  Greenfield,  and  Rake-Hey  Common. 
In  Somersetshire,  near  Shepton  Mallet.  In  Sussex, 
Ardingly,  Balcombe,  Cockbush  (Chichester),  Hand- 
cross  (Tilgate  Forest),  and  West  Hoathley.  In 
Yorkshire,  the  vicinity  of  Halifax  and  Esk  Dale, 
neighbourhood  of  Whitby.  In  Wales,  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Anglesea,  Brecknock,  Caernarvon,  Glamorgan, 
and  Merioneth ;  and  in  the  following  localities  :  in 
Glamorganshire,  Cilhepste,  Waterfall,  Melincourt  Water- 
fall, and  Pont-nedd-Vechan.  In  Merionethshire,  Cader 
Idris,  Cwm  Bychan  (in  the  vicinity  of  Barmouth), 
Crafnant  (in  the  neighbourhood  of  Harlech),  Dolgelly, 
Vale  of  Festiniog,  and  Rhaiadr  Du  (in  the  neighbour- 


134 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


hood  of  Maentwrog).  In  Scotland,  in  the  counties  of 
Argyle,  Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Peebles,  Renfrew,  Ross, 
and  Stirling.  The  following  are  the  localities  of  these 
counties : — In  Argyleshire,  Bullwood,  Dunoon,  and 
Glen  Gilp.  In  Dumbartonshire,  shores  of  Loch 
Lomond.  In  Dumfriesshire,  Drumlanrig  ;  and  in 
Lanarkshire,  banks  of  River  Clyde.  It  is  also  found  in 
the  islands  of  Bute  and  Mull.  In  Ireland,  in  the 
counties  of  Clare,  Cork,  Dublin,  Galway,  Kerry,  and 
Wicklow,  the  subjoined  being  the  localities.  In  the 
county  of  Clare,  Feacle.  In  Cork,  Ballenhassig 
Waterfall,  Dunbullogue  Glen,  Glenbower,  Glengariif, 
Killeagh,  and  Lota  Wood.  Jn  the  county  of  Dublin, 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  capital.  In  Galway, 
Ballynahinch  and  Connemara.  In  Kerry,  in  Glen 
Carnn  and  the  vicinity  of •  Killarney.  In  the  county  of 
Wicklow,  Glencree.  Hyvmiophyllum  Umhridgense  is 
found  at  various  elevations,  extending  to  about  a 
thousand  or  twelve  hundred  feet  above  the  sea-level. 


XLIX. — The  One-sided  Filmy  Fern. 
Hymenophyllum  U7iilaterale. 

(Plate  XV.,  Fig.  6,  page  77.) 

Length  of  Frond. — One  to  six  inches,  the  maxi- 
mum length  being  exceptional,  and  the  average  seldom 
exceeding  two  or  three  inches. 

General  Description. — Roots  very  fine,  wiry, 
fibrous,  and  abundant.  Rootstock,  a  slender,  hairlike, 
brownish-black  rhizoma,  which,  like  that  of  Hytnawphyl- 
lum  tunbridgense,  creeps  extensively  along  the  rocks  or 
shallow  soil  on  which  it  grows,  forming  frequently,  with 
the  roots,  dense,  compact  clusters,  which  are  often 


THE  ONE-SIDED  FILMY  FERN. 


intimately  mixed  with  roots  of  moss,  and  of  its  con 
gener,  the  Tunbridge  Filmy  Fern.  Fronds  evergreen, 
elongated,  oval  in  shape ;  stipes  and  rachis  brownish- 
black  ;  leafy  part  olive-green,  bipinnate ;  pinnae  opposite 
or  alternate,  divided  into  elongated,  narrow  pinnules, 
which  arise  from  one  side— and  that  the  upper — of  the 
midvein  of  each  pinna.  The  texture  of  the  fronds  is  of 
the  same  semi-pellucid  nature  as  that  of  the  fronds  of 
Hyttie7iophylbim  tunbridgense,  and  they  have  the  appear- 
ance as  of  winged  leafy  margins  to  a  series  of  forked 
veins, — the  distinction  between  the  two  species  con- 
sisting in  the  fact  that  the  pinnules  of  Hyinenophyllum 
unilaterale,  besides  being  wider  apart  from  each  other, 
are  produced  upon  one  side  only  of  the  pinnse,  and  not 
on  both  as  is  the  case  in  Hyjnenophylbim  tunbridgetise. 
Fructification  produced  in  urn-shaped  indusia  similar  to 
those  of  the  Tunbridge  Filmy  Fern,  but  entire,  instead 
of  being  fringed  upon  their  upper  margins — the  indusia 
being  situated  upon  aborted  veins  that  branch  from  the 
pinnje  on  each  side  of  and  near  the  junction  of  the  latter 
with  the  main  rachis  (see  page  18,  right-hand  figure). 

Habitats. — Exactly  similar  to  those  indicated  in  the 
case  of  Hyinenophyllum  tunbridgense, — namely,  damp, 
shady  rocks,  tree-trunks,  and  the  ground,  oftentimes 
keeping  company  with  that  species,  and  with  moss,  the 
roots  and  rhizomas  interlacing  with  the  mossy  roots  and 
stems. 

Where  Found. — In  Etigland,  in  the  counties  of 
Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Devon,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Salop, 
Stafford,  Westmoreland,  and  York.  The  following  are  the 
localities  of  these  counties : — In  Cornwall,  the  vicinity 
of  Bodmin,  Rough  Tor  (near  Camelford),  Granite  Tor, 
and  Cam  Brea  (near  Redruth).  In  the  county  of  Cum- 
berland, Borrowdale,  Bow  Fell,  Scale  Force  (near  Butter- 
mere),  Dalegarth,  Ennerdale,  Gatesgarth  Dale,  High 
Still,  Honister  Crag,  Keswick,  and  Lodore  Fall.  In 
Devonshire,   Bickleigh  Wood,   Moreton  Hampstead, 


136 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Shaugh  Bridge,  West  Lyn,  Wistman's  Wood ;  and  on 
the  following  tors :  Great  Mist,  Longaford,  Sheep's, 
White,  and  Vixen  tors.  In  Lancashire,  Thevilly  (near 
Burnley),  neighbourhood  of  Bury,  in  caves  near  Green- 
field, and  near  Lancaster.  In  the  county  of  Northumber- 
land, Jurionside.  In  the  county  of  Salop,  Treflack 
Wood  (Oswestry).  In  Staffordshire,  Gradbitch  (near 
Flash).  In  Westmoreland,  Ambleside,  Langdale  Pikes, 
Patterdale,  and  Stock  Gill  Force.  In  Yorkshire,  Lower 
Harrogate,  Hawl  Gill  (near  Mickleton),  and  Turner's 
Clough  (Rushworth).  In  IVales,  in  the  counties  of 
Anglesea,  Brecknock,  Caermarthen,  Caernarvon,  Cardi- 
gan, Glamorgan,  Merioneth,  and  Radnor.  In  Caernar- 
vonshire, Capel  Curig  (near  Llanberis),  Cwm  Idwal, 
Rhaiadr  Mawr,  and  Rhaiadr-y-Wenol.  In  the  county  of 
Cardigan,  Devil's  Bridge,  Hafod,  and  Pont  Bren.  In 
Glamorganshire,  Melincourt  Waterfall,  Scudeinon-Gam. 
In  the  county  of  Merioneth,  Cader  Idris,  Dolgelly, 
Festiniog,  Rhaiadr-y-Mawddach  (near  Llanelltyd),  and 
Rhaiadr-Du  (near  Maentwrog).  In  Scotlaiid,  in  the 
counties  of  Aberdeen,  Argyle,  Ayr,  Clackmannan, 
Dumbarton,  Dumfries,  Fife,  Forfar,  Inverness,  Kinross, 
Kirkcudbright,  Orkney  (including  Shetland),  Peebles, 
Perth,  Renfrew,  Ross,  Stirling,  and  Sutherland,  the 
localities  in  these  counties  being :  In  Argj'leshire, 
Crinan,  Dunoon,  Glen  Finnart,  Glen  Gilp,  and  Glen 
Moray.  In  Ayrshire,  Dalmellington  and  Glen  Ness. 
In  the  county  of  Clackmannan,  Castle  Campbell  and 
Dollar.  In  Dumbartonshire,  Bowling  Hills  and  shores 
of  Loch  Lomond.  In  the  county  of  Dumfries,  Delvine 
Pass,  Grey  Mare's-tail,  Girpel  Lane,  Kirkpatrick-juxta, 
Moffat  Dale,  and  Nithside.  In  Forfarshire,  Reeky 
Linn.  In  the  county  of  Perth,  Ben  Lawers,  Finlarig 
Burn  (near  Killin),  Glen  Queich,  the  Ochils,  Pass  of 
Leny,  shores  of  Lock  Katrine,  and  the  Trosachs.  In 
the  county  of  Renfrew,  Gourock,  In  the  islands  of 
Arran,  Harris,  Islay,  and  Mull.    In  Ifclafid,  in  the 


FERNS  ROUND  LONDON. 


counties  of  Antrim,  Cork,  Donegal,  Dublin,  Galway, 
Kerry,  Londonderry,  Mayo,  Tipperary,  and  Wicklow, 
the  following  being  the  localities  of  these  counties  :  In 
the  county  of  Antrim,  Colin  Glen  (Belfast),  Glenarve 
River  (Cushendall).  In  Cork,  Morgan's  Glen  (Clonmel), 
and  near  Youghal.  In  the  county  of  Donegal,  the 
Ennishowan  Mountains.  In  Galway,  Connemara  and 
Oughterard.  In  Kerry,  Killarney  and  the  mountains  of 
the  county.  In  Mayo,  the  mountains  of  the  county.  In 
the  county  of  'Wicklow,  Glendalough,  Hermitage  Glen, 
and  Powerscourt  Waterfall.  Hymeiiophylhiui  jinilaterale 
is  found  growing  at  various  heights  extending  to  two 
thousand  eight  hundred  feet  above  sea-level. 


L. — Ferns  round  London. 

The  number  of  those  in  the  Metropolis  who  are  lovers 
and  growers  of  ferns  is  enormously  large,  and  has  cer- 
tainly largely  increased  within  the  last  few  years.  A 
walk  through  almost  any  street  will  prove  the  accuracy 
of  this  statement,  by  showing  how  many  ferns  are  now 
grown  in  windows  alone.  These  beautiful,  flowerless 
plants  have,  in  such  positions,  to  a  large  extent,  taken 
the  place  which  used  to  be  occupied  by  flowers  or  other 
ornaments.  Similar  evidence  of  the  direction  of  the 
popular  taste  is  afforded  by  the  appearance  of  front 
suburban  gardens. 

"  Where  to  find  ferns  round  London  ?  "  is,  therefore, 
a  question  that  is  being  continually  asked,  and,  though 
the  present  chapter  will  not  profess  to  return  an  ex- 
haustive answer  to  the  inquiry,  it  will  give  information 
which,  it  is  hoped,  will  be  useful  and  valuable  to  a  large 
number  of  persons. 

The  rapid  changes  that,  by  the  continual  develop- 


138 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


ment  of  London,  are  made  upon  the  country  around  it, 
render  it  difficult  to  accurately  define  the  locality  of 
fern  habitats ;  and  any  attempt  to  name  particular  spots 
where  ferns  are  to  be  found  would  involve  the  risk  of 
constant  disappointment.  Particular  habitats  may  have 
been  stripped,  and  yet  the  same  ferns  may  be  found  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  old  habitats.  The  plants  may,  so  to 
speak,  have  been  driven  further  afield ;  but  the  places 
that  used  to  know  them  are  almost  certain  to  furnish  a 
more  or  less  reliable  key  to  their  actual  "whereabouts": 
that  is  to  say,  that  the  old  habitat  will  at  least  provide  or 
suggest  a  good  starting-point  from  which  to  search  for 
the  new  one. 

Amongst  the  authorities  consulted  for  the  purposes  of 
this  chapter  are  the  "  Flora  of  Middlesex,"  by  Messrs. 
Trimen  and  Dyer,  the  floras  of  other  metropolitan  coun- 
ties, and  Dr.  E.  de  Crespigny's  "  New  London  Flora." 

The  localities  are  set  out  in  alphabetical  order,  and 
the  name  of  each  district  is  given  in  preference  to 
indicating  the  exact  wood,  lane,  common,  or  down  where 
the  habitat  is  to  be  looked  for.  To  direct  thousands  of 
persons,  for  instance,  to  the  particular  part  of  a  wood, 
lane,  or  common  where  certain  species  of  ferns  are  to  be 
found,  would  be  to  secure  the  speedy  extermination  of 
the  plants ;  and  such  easy  acquisition  would  take  away 
half  of  the  pleasure  of  fern-hunting. 

With  regard  especially  to  the  following  lists  of  ferns 
round  London,  the  Author  will  be  glad  at  all  times  to 
receive  from  correspondents  information  supplementary 
to  that  contained  in  this  chapter ;  and,  whenever  pos- 
sible, specimen  fronds  of  ferns  found  in  localities  not 
mentioned  here,  or  not  included  under  the  names  of  the 
districts  which  have  been  mentioned. 

Abbey  Wood.  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrta 
filix-7nas  (Male  Fern). 

Acton. — Asplenitim  ntta-muraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleenwort), 
Ophioqlosstitn  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 


FERNS  ROUND  LONDON. 


Addington  Hills.  Blechnum spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Botrychitim 
liinaria  (Moon wort). 

Alburv.  Aspleniuin  adiantuin-niorutn  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Aspleiihtm  riita-inuraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleenwort), 
Botrychitim  hinaria  (Moonwort),  Cystopteris  fragilis  (Brittle 
Bladder  Fern),  Lastrca  filix-mas  (Male  P'ern),  Lastrca  spiviilosa 
(Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Ophioglossum  viilgattim  (Adders- 
tongue). 

Aldenhanf.  Athyrium  filix-famina  (Lady  Fern),  Lastrea 
dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern). 

Ardingly.  Hynienophylluin  itmbridgeiise  (Tunbridge  Filmy 
Fern),  Lastrea  reciu~va  (Hay-scented  Buckler  Fern). 

AsHTEAD.    Lastrca  spimilosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern). 

Baddow  (Little).  Lastrca  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern), 
Lastrea  thelyptcris  (Marsh  Buckler  Fern),  Osmimda  regalis  (Royal 
Fern). 

Bagshot.  Athyrium  filix-fccniina  (Lady  Fern),  Blechnum 
spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern), 
Lastrea  fdix-mas  (Male  Fern),  Lastrea  spimilosa  (Prickly-toothed 
Buckler  Fern),  Osiintnda  rcf^alis  (Royal  Fern),  Polypodittvi  vitlgare 
(Common  Polypody),  Pteris  aqiiilina  (Bracken). 

Balcombe.  Hymetiophylliim  tiinhridgense  (Tunbridge  Filmy 
Fern),  Lastrea  rectu-M  ( Hay-scented  Buckler  Fem). 

Banbury.    Ophioglossum  vulgatiim  (Adders-tongue). 

Barking.    Polystichum  angiilare  (.Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Barnes.    Pteris  acjuilina  (liracken). 

Barnet.    Lastrea  filix-mas  (Male  Fern). 

Bayford.  Asplenium  trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Lastrea  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Ophio- 
glossum z'ulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

Beddington.    Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

Berkhampstead  (Great).  Atliyrium  fiilix-fo:mina  (Lady 
Fern),  I^astrea  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Polystichum 
aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Sliield  Fern). 

Berkhami'STEad  (Little).  Asplenium  adiantum-nigrum 
(Black  Maidenhair  Spleenwort),  Asplenium  trichomanes  (Common 
Maidenhair  Spleenwort),  Athyrium  filix-fa-mina  (Lady  Fern), 
Polystichum  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Betciiworth.  Asplenium  ceterach  (Scaly  Spleenwort),  Ophio- 
glossum vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

Bexley.  Lastrea  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea 
thelyptcris  (Marsh  Buckler  Fern). 

Black  Notley.  Polystichum  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield 
Fem). 

Bletchingley.  Asplenium  ruta-muraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleen- 
wort), Polystichum  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

L 


140 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Brasted.    Lasirca  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern). 

Brentford.  Ophioglossum  viilgatum  (Adders-tongue),  Poly- 
stichtim  angulare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Brentwood.  Aihyrhini  fdix-famina  (Lady  Fem),  Bkchnuin 
spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fem), 
Lastrca  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  spimilosa 
(Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Ophioglossum  vulgatiim  (Adders- 
tongue),  Osmunda  res^alis  (Royal  Fern),  Polystichnm  actdeatuvi 
(Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Brickendon.  Asplcniiim  adiantum-nignim  (Black  Maiden- 
hair Spleenwort),  Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue),  Poly- 
stichnm angulare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fem). 

Brockham.    Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

Broxdourne.  Blechnum  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  filix- 
vias  (Male  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fem),  Lastrea 
montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrca  spinulosa  (Prickly- 
toothed  Buckler  Fern). 

BuRNHAM  Beeches.  Asplcnium  adiantum-nigrum  (Black 
Maidenhair  Spleenwort),  Aspleninm  trichomanes  (Common  Maiden- 
hair _Spleenwort),  Atltyrium  Jilix-famina  (Lady  Fern),  Blechnum 
spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  filix-mas  (Male  Fern),  Polystichnm 
acnleatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern),  Polystichnm  angulare  (Soft 
Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

BuRSTOW.  Asplcnium  trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort). 

Canterbury.  Lastrca  spinulosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler 
Fern),  Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

Chalfont.  Polystichnm  acnleatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fem). 

Chertsey.    Lastrca  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern). 

Chesiiunt.  Polystichnm  acnleatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fem). 

Chiddingly.  LLymenophyllum  tunbridgcnsc  '(Twy^xA^q.  Filmy 
Fem). 

Chigwell.  Lastrca  thclyptcris  (Marsh  Buckler  Fern),  Poly- 
stichnm acnleatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Chingford.  Polystichnm  acnleatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield 
Fem),  Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

Chipping  Norton.    Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern). 

Chislei-iurst.  Botrychium  lunaria  (Moonwort),  Lastrca  spi- 
nulosa (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken), 
Scolopendrium  vulgare  (Hartstongue). 

Chobham.  Blechnum  spicant  (Hard  Fem),  Lastrea  dilatata 
(Broad  Buckler  Fem),  Lastrca  filix-mas  (Male  Fem),  Lastrca  mon- 
tana (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrca  spinulosa  (Prickly-toothed 
Buckler  Fem),  Osmunda  rcgalis  (Royal  Fern). 

CoBHAM.  Lastrea  filix-mas  (Male  Fern),  Lastrea  montana 
(Mountain  Buckler   Fem),    Lastrea   spinulosa  (Prickly-toothed 


FERNS  ROUND  LONDON. 


141 


Buckler  Fern),  Ophioglossiiin  viilgatuin  (Adders-tongue),  Polypo- 
diiim  vtilgare  [Convccion  Polypody),  Polystuliuni  actilcalum  (Hard 
Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

COGGLESHAI.L.  Laslrch  spimdosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern). 

COLDHARBOUR.  Atliyriiiiii  filix-faiiiina  (Lady  Fern),  Laslrea 
dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Laslrea  Jilix-iiias  (Male  Fern), 
Lastrea  spimdosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Osmunda  re- 
galis  (Royal  Fern),  Folypodiitiii  vidgare  (Common  Polypody), 
Folystichttiii  actdeatitm  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

COLNEY  Heath.  Athyritiin  Jilix-fccmiita  (Lady  Fern),  Laslrea 
filix-iiias  (Male  Fern),  Polyslicliiiin  aeidcalum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield 
Fern),  Polystielutm  angidari  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

COULSDON.  Bolrychiiim  hinaria  (Moonwort),  Ophioglossiiin 
vulgalum  (Adders-tongue),  Plcris  aquiliiia  (Bracken). 

Cowley.    Asplcnium  celeracJi  (Scaly  Spleenwort). 

Cray  (North).    Laslrea  lliclypleris  (Marsh  Buckler  Fern). 

Cray  (St.  Mary).  Polyslichiuu  aiigidare  (Soft  Prickly  .Shield 
Fern). 

Croham  Hukst.    Polypodinin  vidgare  (Common  Polypody). 

Croydon.     Ophioglossiiin  vulgaliun  (Adders-tongue). 

Danburv.    Lastrea  spimdosa  (Prickly-toolhed  Buckler  Fern). 

Dartford.  Aspleniiuu  adianliiin-nigrtun  (Black  Maidenhair 
.Spleenwort),  Alhyriiuii  fdix-fccniina  (Lady  Fern),  Blechmiin  spi- 
cant  (Hard  Fern),  Botryeliiuin  Innaria  (Moonwort),  Lastrea  fiiix- 
mas  (Male  Fern),  Ophioglossiiin  vidgatiiin  (Adders-tongue),  Plcris 
aquilina  (Bracken). 

DoRKi.NG.  Botryehiiiiii  Innaria  (Moonwort),  Lastrea  dilatata 
(Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern),  Polypodinin 
vidgare  (Common  Polypody),  Polystkhnin  acnleatnin  (Hard  Prickly 
Shield  Fern). 

Earlswood.  Polystiehiiin  acnlealnni  (Hard  Prickly  Shield 
Fern). 

Elstead.  Blcchnnm  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Laslrea  filix-mas 
(Male  Fern),  L^aslrea  spimdosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern). 

Elstree.    Opliioglossiuii  vulgalum  (Adders-tongue). 

Epping.  Asplcnium  rnta-miiraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleenwort), 
T^astrea  dilatata  ( Broad  Buckler  Fern),Zf7.f/;r«  /5'//a--;«(ZJ'  (Male  Fern), 
Lastrea  j/Zw/^/wrz  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  thely plcris 
(.Marsh  Buckler  Fern),  Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern),  Polysliehuin 
angidare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Epping  Forest.  Asplcnium  ruta-murarili  (Rue-leaved  Spleen- 
wort), Asplcnium  ceterach  (Scaly  Spleenwort),  Blechnum  spicant 
(PLird  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  ]?uckler  Fern),  Laslrea 
montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  spimdosa  (Prickly- 
toothed  Fern),  I^astrea  Ihclypteris  (Marsh  ]5ucklcr  Fern),  Ophio- 
glossiiin vulgalum  (Adders-tongue),  Poly  podium  vidg(ire  (Common 

L  2 


£42 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Polypody),  Polystichiim  aciilcatnm  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern), 
Polystichiwi  angiilare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern),  Pteris  aqtnlina 
(Bracken),  Scolopendriiiin  vulgare  (Hartstongue). 
Epsom.    Pteris  aqiiilina  (Bracken). 

ESHER.  Bkclinumspicant  (Hard  Fern),  Laslrea  dilatata  (Broad 
Buckler  Fern),  Laslrea  spinulosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern), 
Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern),  Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

EsSENDON.  Aspleniitm  adiantiun-nigriiin  (Black  ]\Iaidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Ophioglossum  vulgatuvi  (Adders-tongue),  Polystichtnn 
aculeatiim  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

EwHURST.    Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern). 

Farletgh  (West).    Op/iiog/ossmn  vidgatiiui  (Adders-tongue). 

Faknham.  Asplcniuiii  cetcrach  (Scaly  Spleenwort),  Botrychitiin 
lunaria  (Moonwort),  Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern). 

Foot's  Cray.  Asplenium  tricliomaiies  (Common  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Botrychiuni  lunaria  (Moonwort). 

Frensham.    Polypodium  vulgare  (Common  Polypody). 

Frimley.     Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern). 

Fltlmer.  Lastrea  spimilosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern), 
Polyslichum  acitleatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Gerrard's  Cross.    Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

GODALMING.  Asplenium  ceterach  (Scaly  Spleenwort),  Bolry- 
chiufn  lunaj-ia  (Moonwort),  Lastrea  tJielypteris  [Mdssh  Buckler  Fern), 
Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern),  Polypodium  vulgare  (Common  Poly- 
pody). Also  (at  Hascombe)  Lastrea  filix-mas,  Lastrea  spinulosa, 
and  Polystichuiii  aculeatuni  (W.  A.  Pearce). 

GoDSTONE.  Asplenium  ruta-)iiuraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleenwort), 
Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern). 

GoMSHALL.  Asplenijim  trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Athyrium  Jilix-fainina  (Lady  Fern),  Lastrea  spinulosa, 
(Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern). 

Gravesend.    Asplenium  ceterach  (Scaly  Spleenwort). 

Greenford.    Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

Greenhithe.    Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

Guildford.  Asplenium  cuiiantum-nigrum  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Asplenium  ruta-muraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleenwort), 
Asplenium  trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleenwort),  Athy- 
rium filix-fa:inina  (Lady  Fern),  Cystopteris  fragilis  (Brittle  Bladder 
Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern)  Lastrea  fdix-nias 
(Male  Fern),  Lastrea  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea 
spintclosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Ophioglossum  vulgatum 
(Adders-tongue),  Polystichum  angulare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern), 
Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

Hackney  Marshes.    Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

Hainault  Forest.  Lastrea  thelypteris  (Marsh  Buckler  Fern), 
Polystichum  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 


FERNS  ROUND  LONDON. 


Hampstead  Heath.  Aspkniuin  ruta-tnuraria  (Rue-leaved 
Spleenvvort),  Pteris  aqjiilina  (15racken). 

Handcross.  Hymmophyllum  timbridgcnsc  (Tunbridge  Filmy 
Fern). 

Harefield.  AspleniiiDi  adianlitm-nigruiii  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Asplcniitm  trichomaiies  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleen- 
wort),  Lastrea  cristata  (Crested  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata 
(Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Ophioglossttin  viilgaiiim  (Adders-tongue), 
Polystichiim  aciileatuin  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Harrow  Weald.  Aspknitim  adianttim-iiigriim  (Black  Maiden- 
hair Spleenwort),  Athyriiiin  filix-fxmina  (Lady  Fern),  Bleclmuin 
spicaut  (Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern), 
Lastrea  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Polystichitm  angulare 
(Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern),  Pteris  aqiiilina  (Bracken). 

Hartwell.    Lastrea  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern). 

Haslemere.  Asploiiitm  adiantiim-nigriiiii  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Asplcniitm  cetcrach  (Scaly  Spleenvvort),  Asplcnium 
trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleenwort). 

Hatfield.  Aspknitim  adiantit?ii-nigrnm  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Asplenitim  trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleen- 
wort), Alhyriitm  filix-fccmina  (Lady  Fern),  Blechnum  spicant 
(Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  spinulosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern), 
Polystichiim  angulare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Hayes.    Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

Hendon.    Polystichiim  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Hertford.  Asplenium  adianttim-nigriim  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Asplcnium  trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleen- 
wort), Athyriiim  Jilix-fcemina  (Lady  Fern),  Blechnum  spicant 
(Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  filix- 
mas  (Male  Fern),  Lastrea  spinulosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern), 
Polystichiim  angulare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Hertingfordbury.  Polystichum  angulare  (Soft  PricklyShield 
Fern). 

High  Beech.  Lastrea  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern), 
Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

Highgate.    Asplenium  ruta-mttraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleenwort). 

HiTCHiN.  Lastrea  dilatata  (Brotid  Buckler  Fern),  Ophioglossiim 
vulgattim  (Adders-tongue),  Polystichum  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly 
Shield  Fern). 

Holmwood.  Blechnum  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  montana 
(Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern),  Pteris 
aquilina  (Bracken). 

Horsell.    Lastrea  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern). 

LsLEWORTH.    Ophioglossiim  vulgalum  (Adders-tongue). 

Kelvedon.  Asplenium  trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort). 


T44 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Keston.  Asplenitcin  adiantitm-nigrum  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenvvort),  Bkchnum  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Laslrea  filix-mas 
(Male  Fern),  Laslrea  thelyptcris  (IVIarsh  Buckler  Fern),  Polypodiutn 
vulgare  (Common  Polypody),  Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

Leaimerhead.  Polystichnvi  aculeatum  (Mard  Prickly  Shield 
Fern). 

Leigh.  Polypoditim  vulgare  (Common  Polypody),  Scolopen- 
drium  vulgare  (Hartstongue). 

Leith  Hill.  Blechnmn  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Bolrychium  lun- 
aria  (Moonwort),  Laslrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Lasti-ea 
filix-mas  (Male  Fern),  Laslrea  montana  {Wosx\\\a\\\  Buckler  Fern), 
Laslrea  spiiiulosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Lasti-ea  thely- 
pteris  (Marsh  Buckler  Fern),  Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern),  Poly- 
slick um  cuulealum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Leyton.  Aspletiiutii  Iric/iomaues  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleen- 
wort). 

Leytonstone.  Aspleninm-  rula-viuraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleen- 
wort). 

LouGHTON.  Asplenium  adiantuin-mgi-iwt  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Laslrea  Ihelypleris  (F.  J.  Lewis),  Pteris  aquilina 
(Bracken). 

Maidstone.  Asplenium  celerach  (Scaly  Spleenwort),  Laslrea 
filix-mas  (Male  Fern). 

Mayford.  Alhyrium  Jilix-fcvmina  (Lady  Fern),  Laslrea  Jilix- 
mas  (Male  Fern),  Polyslichittii  aculealttm  (Hard  Prickly  Shield 
Fern),  Polysliclium  aitgulare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Merstham.    Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

MiCKLEHAM.    Asplenium  celerach  (Scaly  Spleenwort). 

MiMMS  (North).  Blechmim  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Laslrea  spinu- 
losa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Polysliclium  angulare  (Soft 
Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

MuNCOMBE.   Polysliclium  actdeatutn  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Newland.    Laslrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern). 

Northaw.    Laslrea  montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern). 

Nutfield.  Asplenium  Irichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Polystichum  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Ongar.  Asplenium  adiantum-nigrum  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Asplenium  Irichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleen- 
wort), Alhyrium  Jilix-fcemina  (Lady  Fern),  Ophioglossum  vulgatum 
(Adders-tongue),  Polystichum  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield 
Fern),  Scolopciidrium  vulgare  (Hartstongue). 

OxHEY.  Alhyrium  filix-fcvmina  (Lady  Fern),  Laslrea  dilatata 
(Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

Perivale.    Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue). 

Pinner.  Asplenium  adiantum-riigrnm  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Laslrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Laslrea  Jilix- 


FERNS  ROUND  LONDON. 


145 


7iias  (Male  Fern),  Polysticlntin  aciileatnm  (Hard  Prickly  Shield 
Fern),  Polystkhum  angiilare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

PiRliRiGHT.  Blec/inuin  spicant  (llai-il  ¥ex-[\),  Lastrea  fdix-mas 
(Male  Fern),  Lastrea  thelypteris  (Marsh  Buckler  Fern),  Osmtinda 
regalis  (Royal  Fern),  Pteris  aqiiilina  (Bracken). 

Putney.    Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

PUTTENHAM.  Blechnuvi  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Botrychhtm 
lunaria  (Moonwort). 

Rainham.  Asplenium  trklioinancs  (Common  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort). 

Redhill.    Scolopendrhim  vtilgare  (Hartstongue). 

Reigate.  Asplenium  tric/io/nai/es {Common  Maidenhair  Spleen- 
wort),  Athyritim  filix-famiita  (Lady  Fern),  Bleclniiim  spicant\\\z.x^ 
Fern),  Botrychiitm  lunaria  (Moonwort),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad 
Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  filix-iiias  (Male  Fern),  Lastrea  spimilosa 
(Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Ophioglosstiin  vtilgatiun  (Adders- 
tongue),  Osiitunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern),  PolysticJiiim  aculeatitin 
(Hard  Prickly  .Shield  Fern),  Polystiehiti/i  angvlare  (Soft  Prickly 
Shield  P'ern),  Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

RiCKMANSWORTH.  Aspleniu/n  adiantuni-nigruin  (Black  Maiden- 
hair Spleenwort),  Asplenium  triclwnianes  (Common  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort). 

RiVERHEAD.    Asplenium  ceterach  (Scaly  Spleenwort). 

RusTHALL.    Lastrea  moniana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern). 

St.  Albans.  Asplenium  adiantum-nigrum  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Polystichum  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Sevenoaks.  Lastrea  Jilix-mas  (Male  Fern),  Pteris  aquilina 
(Bracken),  Scolopendrium  vtilgare  (Hartstongue). 

Shackleford.    Botrychium  lunaria  (Moonwort). 

Shalford.  Asplenium  ruta-muraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleenwort), 
Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern). 

Shiere.  Asplenium  adiantum-nigrum  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Asplenium  ruta-muraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleenwort), 
Asplenium  trichomaiws  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleenwort)  Bo- 
trychium  lunaria  (Moonwort),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler 
Fern),  Lastrea  motitana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  spinu- 
/ff^a  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Osinunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern). 

Shirley.  Atliyrium  filix-fccmina  (Lady  Fern),  Blechnuin 
spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Botrychium  lunaria  (Moonwort). 

Snaresbrook.    Athyrium  filix-famina  Lady  Fern). 

SouTitiJOROUGH.  Blechnum  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Pteris 
aquilina  (Bracken). 

Springfield.  Polystichum  angiilare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield 
Fern). 

Stan  MORE.  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Pteris 
aquilina  (Bracken). 


146 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Sturry.    Lastrea  fiUx-famhia  (Lady  Fern). 

SUNNINGHILL.    Lastrea  thclypteris  (Marsh  Buckler  Fern). 

Teddington.  Asplejiitt/u  adiantitin-nigrtiin  (Black  Maiden- 
hair Spleenwort),  Aspleniiiin  riita-imiraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleen- 
wort). 

TiLGATE  Forest.  Asplcnium  adiantiim-nignim  (Black 
Maidenhair  Spleenwort),  Athyrhim  filix-fxmina  (Lady  Fern), 
Blechntim  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Hynienophylliim  timbridgense 
(Tunbridge  Filmy  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern), 
Lastrea  filix-inas  (Male  Fern),  Lastrea  j/iontana  (Mountain  Buckler 
Fern),  Lastrea  spinttlosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Poly- 
podium  dryoptei-is  (Three-branched  Polypody),  Polypodmiii 
phegopteris  (Mountain  Polypody),  Scolopendrhun  viilgare  (Harts- 
tongue). 

Tiptree.    Lastrea  sp'mtilosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern). 

Totteridge.  Polystichmn  actileatiim  (Hard  Prickly  Shield 
Fern),  Polystichmn  aiigiilare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Town  Malling.  Asplenhim  r!/ta-w2iraria{'R\ie-\e3.ved  Spleen- 
wort). 

Tring.  Atliyrium  filix-fccmina  (Lady  Fern),  Blechniiin  spicant 
(Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  filix-mas  (Male  Fern),  Lastrea  inontana 
(Mountain  Buckler  Fern). 

Tunbridge  Wells.  Aspleniuin  lanceolatmn  (Lanceolate 
Spleenwort),  Aspleniuin  t ric/i on/ anes  {Common  Maidenhair  Spleen- 
wort), Athyrivni  filix-fccniina  (Lady  Fern),  Blechntim  spicant 
(Hard  Fern),  Cystopteris  fragilis  (Brittle  Bladder  Fern),  Hynieno- 
phylluin  timbridgense  (Tunbridge  Filmy  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata 
(Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  filix-mas  (Male  Fern),  Lastrea 
Montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  recurva  (Hay-scented 
Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  spiniilosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern), 
Lastrea  thelypteris  (Marsh  Buckler  Fern),  Osiniinda  regalis  (Royal 
Fern),  Polypodiian  viilgare  (Common  Polypody),  Heris  aqtiiliua 
(Bracken),  Scolopendriiiiii  vulgare  (Hartstongue). 

Virginia  Water.  Athyrium filix-fccmina  (Lady  Fern),  Lastrea 
dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  filix-mas  (Male  Fern), 
Lastrea  spinulosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler  Fern). 

Walthamstow.  Asplenium  trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Pteris  aqiiilina  (Bracken). 

W^ANDSWORTH.    I^leris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

Warley.  Asplenium  adiantum-nigriun  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Asplenium  trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleen- 
wort), Athyrium  filix-fivmina  (Lady  Fern),  Blechnum  spicant 
(Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea 
montana  (Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  spinulosa  (Prickly- 
toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Ophioglossum  vulgatum  (Adders-tongue), 
Osmunda  regalis  (Royal    F'ern),  Polystichum   aatleatutn  (Hard 


FERNS  ROUND  LONDON. 


M7 


Prickly  Shield  Fern),  Polystichuin  angtilare  (Soft  Prickly  Sliiekl 
Fern). 

Watford.  Aspknium  adianium-nigi-mn  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Ophioglossum  vulgatitni  (Adders-tongue),  Polystichuin 
angulare  (Soft  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Welham.  Aspknium  adiantum-nigruiii  (Black  Maidenhair 
Spleenwort),  Aspknium  triclioinanes  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleen- 
wort),  Polystichuin  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield  Fern). 

Wendlesham.    Polypodium  vulgare  (Common  Polypody). 

West  Hoathley.  Lastrea  recuiua  (Hay-scented  IJuckler 
Feni). 

Weybridge.    Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

Whetton.    Lastrea  dilaiata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern). 

Wimbledon.  Polystichuin  aculeatum  (Hard  Prickly  Shield 
Fern),  Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken). 

WiNCHMORE  Hill.  Aihyrium  Jilix-fcemiiia  (Lady  Fern), 
Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  spinulosa  (Prickly- 
toothed  Buckler  Fern),  Polypodium  vulgare  (Common  Polypody). 

Windsor.  Athyrium  Jilix-fasmina  (Lady  Fern),  Lastrea 
thelypteris  (Marsh  Buckler  Fern). 

WiTLEY.  Bkchnum  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  inontana 
(Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  spinulosa  (Prickly-toothed 
Buckler  Yz\x\),Osmunda  regalis  (Royal  Fern). 

Woking.  Bkchnum  spicant  (Hard  Fern),  Lastrea  dilatata 
(Broad  Buckler  Fern),  Lastrea  spinulosa  (Prickly-toothed  Buckler 
Fern),  Pteris  aquilina  (Bracken),  Scolopendriuin  vulgare  (Harts- 
tongue). 

Wonham.    Lastrea  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern). 

Woodford.  Aspknitim  ruta-muraria  (Rue-leaved  Spleenwort), 
Aspknium  trichomanes  (Common  Maidenhair  Spleenwort). 

WoRMLEY.  Lastrea  filix-mas  (Male  Fern),  Lastrea  inontana 
(Mountain  Buckler  Fern). 


INDEX  OF  LOCALITIES 


Refirred  to  between  pages  i  and  137. 

 to*  


Ais-la-Beck,  125 
Alnwick  Castle,  123 
Ambleside,  115,  125,  136 
Ardingly,  133 
Arnside,  125 
Amside  Knot,  108 
Arthur's  Seat,  115 
Ashness  Gill,  125 
Assynt,  95,  126 
Attermine  Rocks,  108 
Attermire  Scar,  94 

Balcombe,  133 

Ballenhassig  Waterfall,  134 

Ballinasy  Glen,  78 

Ballynahinch,  134 

Ballyvaughan,  70 

Bandon,  78,  126 

Bantry,  78 

Barmouth,  133 

Barry  Island,  70 

Bawsey  Heath,  109 

Beacon  Hill,  125 

Becky  Fall,  133 

Belfast,  124,  136 

Ben  Bulben,  95,  126 

Ben  Chonzic,  95,  100,  loi,  126 

Ben  Hope,  95 

Ben  Lawers,  95,  97,  99,  100, 

loi,  126,  136 
Ben  More,  94 
Ben  Voirlich,  95,  126 
Bcttwys-yCoed,  115 


Bexley  Decoy,  109 
Bickleigh  Vale,  133 
Bickleigh  Wood,  135 
Blackford  Hill,  115 
Blackhead,  74 
Blackstones,  78 
Blackwater  Valley,  78 
Blair  Athol,  126 
Bodmin,  135 

Borrowdale,  115,  116,  125, 
Borrow  Force,  125 
Bow  Fell,  135 
Bowling  Hills,  136 
Brandon  Hill,  95 
Brecon  Beacon,  125 
Brixham,  70 
Bulwell  Marshes,  109 
Bulwood,  134 
Burnley,  136 
Bury,  136' 
Buttermire,  135 
Buxton,  125,  133 

Cader  Idris,  94,  126,  133 
Cahir  Conree,  70 
Camelford,  133,  135 
Canlochen,  95,  98,  126 
Capel  Colbren,  125 
Capel  Curig,  115,  117,  136 
Capel-y-Fin,  125 
Carclew,  70 

Carlingford  Mountains,  76 
Carn  Brea,  135 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Carnedd  Llewellyn,  115 
Cair-edge,  125 
Carrickfergus,  74 
Carrick  Gladden,  70 
Carrigeena  Kildorrery,  78 
Carron  River,  70 
Casterton  Fell,  125 
Castle  Campbell,  136 
Castle  Leod,  95 
Castleton,  125 
Catiaghiamman,  loi 
Cauldron  Snout,  100 
Cavedale,  125 
Caveliill,  124 
Cawdor  Woods,  126 
Charley  Forest,  125 
Cheddar  Cliffs,  70 
Chichester,  133 
Cilhepste  Waterfall,  126,  133 
Clashgariffe  Fall,  78 
Clevedon,  70 
Cliviger,  133 

Clogwyn-du-Yrarddu,  126 
Clogwyn-y-Garnedd,    94,  100, 

loi,  126 
Clonmel,  137 
Clova,  126 

Clova  Mountains,  95,  iCO,  loi 

Clyde  River,  134 

Cockbush,  133 

Colin  Glen,  137 

Conistone,  133 

Connemara,  70,  134,  137 

Corehead,  100 

Cork,  78,  126 

Corrach  Dh'  Oufillach,  99 

Crafnant,  133 

Craig  Challiach,  95,  loi 

Craig  Dhu,  115 

Craig  Maid,  95 

Craven,  125 

Gremlin  Point,  70 

Crieff,  95,  100,  loi,  126 

Crinan,  136 

Cromaglaun  Mountains,  78 
Croydon  Brook,  133 


Culbone,  115,  117 
Cumailte  Mountains,  78 
Curaan  Lake,  78 
Cushendall,  137 
Cwm  Bychan,  133 
Cwm-Idwal,  94,  97,  126,  136 

Dalegarth,  135 
Dalmellington,  136 
Danny,  125 
Darran-yr-Ogof,  126 
Dartmoor,  133 
Dart  River,  122 
Del  vine  Pass,  136 
Dersingham,  109 
Devil's  Beef-tub,  100 
Devil's  Bridge,  136 
Dingle,  78 
Dog's  Lake,  100 
Dolgelly,  115,  133,  136 
Dollar,  136 
Douglas,  70 
Dovedale,  125,  126 
Drumlanrig,  134 
Drummond  Hill,  126 
Dublin,  134 
Dulesgate,  125 
Dunbullogue  Glen,  134 
Dunfermline,  117 
Dunkeld,  115,  117 
Dunoon,  126,  134,  136 
Dunraven,  70 

East  Aberthaw,  71 
Edgefield,  109 
Edinburgh,  117 
Ennerdale,  135 
Ennishowan  Mountains,  137 
Esk  Dale,  133 
Exmoor,  115 

Fairfield,  94 
Falcon  Glints,  94,  100,  125 
Falls  of  Clyde,  126 
Farlton  Knot,  loS,  125,  126 
Feacle,  134 


INDEX  OF 

Festiniog,  136 
Finlarig  Burn,  136 
Flash,  136 
Forres,  100 
Fritton,  109 

Gatesworth  Dale,  135 
Giggleswick,  94 
Gillsland,  125 
Girpel  Lane,  136 
Glandore,  78 
Glenade  Mountains,  95 
Glenarve  River,  137 
Glenbour,  78 
Glenbovver,  134 
Glen  Carnn,  134 
Glencree,  134 
Glen  Dale,  95 
Glendalough,  137 
Glendine  Wood,  78 
Glen  Dochart,  99 
Glen  Fiadh,  95,  100,  loi 
Glen  Finnart,  136 
Glengariff",  78,  134 
Glen  Gilp,  134,  136 
Glen  Isla,  95,  99,  loi 
Glen  Lochy,  99 
Glen  Lyon,  95 
Glen  Meay,  70 
Glen  Moray,  136 
Glen  Ness,  136 
Glen  Queich,  136 
Glouin  Caragh,  78 
Glyder-Vawr,  94,  loo,  126 
Glyn-y-Cwm,  126 
Gordale,  125 
Gortgaree,  78 
Gourock,  136 
Gradbitch,  136 
Granite  Tor,  135 
Great  Mist  Tor,  136 
Greenfield,  133,  136 
Grey  Mare's  Tail,  136 

Hafod,  136 
Halifax,  126,  133 


LOCALITIES.  151 

Ham  Bridge,  125 
Ilandcross,  133 
Harlech,  133 
Hassendean,  1 1 7 
Hawl  Gill,  136 
Hayle,  70 

Helvellyn,  94,  115,  116,  1 17 
Flermitage  Glen,  78,  137 
High  Still,  135 
Holt,  109 

Honister  Crags,  1 15,  135 

Hunstanton,  109 

Hutton  Roof  Crags,  108,  125 

Ilfracombe,  70 
Ingleborough,  94,  108,  I15,  125 
Ingleton,  108 
Inveragh,  78 
Ipswich,  109 
Irthing  River,  125 

Jedburgh,  115 
Jurionside,  136 

Kelso,  117 
Kendal  Fell,  125 
Kenmare,  78 
Keswick,  115,  135 
Kiliarney,  78,  134,  137 
Killeagh,  78,  134 
Killin,  136 

Kirkpatrick-juxta,  136 
Knaresborough,  109 
Kyloe  Crags,  115,  116,  117 

Lancaster,  136 
Land's  End,  122 
Langcliffe  94 
Langdale  Pikes,  136 
Leeds,  125 
Llanberis,  lor,  136 
Llan  Dclhyla,  115 
Llanelltyd,  136 
Llanrwst,  115,  117 
Llyn-y-Cwm,  100,  115 


WHERE  TO  FIND  FERNS. 


Loch  Erricht,  95 
Loch  Katrine,  136 
Loch  Lomond,  134,  136 
Loch  Skene,  100 
Lodoie  Fall,  135 
Longafoid  Tor,  136 
Lota  Wood,  134 
Lough  Bulard,  71 
Lough  Eask,  95,  126 
Lower  Harrogate,  136 
Low  Leyton,  97 
Lynn,  109 

Macclesfield,  133 

Madeley,  109 

Mael-dun-Crosk,  loi 

Maentwrog,  134,  136 

Maidstone,  125 

Malton,  109 

Mare's-tail,  126 

Matlock,  123 

Mazebeck  Scar,  94,  125 

Melincourt  Waterfall,  133,  136 

Merthyr  Tydfil,  126 

Mewstone  Bay,  71 

Middleton,  94 

Minto  Crags,  78,  115 

Micklehan?,  125 

Mickleton,  136 

Moel  Lechog,  loi,  115 

MofTatt,  100 

Moffatt  Dale  136 

!Moreton  Hampstead,  133,  135 

Morgan's  Glen,  109,  137 

Mount  Eagle,  78 

Mourne  Mountains,  76 

Navan,  95 

Newcastle-under-Lyne,  109 
Nithside,  136 
Norwich,  109 

OciiiLS,  136 
Ogden  Clough,  125 
Oswestry,  136 


Oughterard,  137 
Oxton  Bogs,  109 

Pass  of  Ballatar,  115 
Pass  of  Leny,  136 
Pass  of  Llanberis,  100,  loi,  1 15, 
117 

Patterdale,  1 1 5,  125,  136 

Peel,  70 

Penryn,  133 

Penzance,  71,  122 

Petersfield,  123 

Petit  Bot  Bay,  82 

Plym  River,  122 

Pont  Bren,  136 

Pont  Nedd  Vechan,  126,  133 

Pont-y-Pair,  115 

Port  Kirig,  71 

Portlemouth,  122 

Powerscourt  Waterfall,  78,  137 

Prawle  Point,  122 

Purbeck,  Isle  of,  123 

Rake  IIey  Common,  133 
Raven  Rock,  95 
ReJrutb,  135 
Reeky  Linn,  136 
Reelh  Moor,  125 
Rhaiadr-Du,  133,  T36 
Rhaiadr  Mawr,  136 
Rhaiadr-y-Mawddach,  136 
Rhaiadr-y-Wenol,  136 
Richmond,  125 
Rosses,  95 

Rough  Tor,  133,  135 
Roundstone,  71 
Rushworth,  136 

Saddleback,  97 
St.  Aubin,  72 
St.  Haule,  72 
St.  Ives,  70,  122 
St.  Laurence,  72 
Salcombe,  I2i 

Scale  Force,  135  ^j- ^  ,:-;.^-<,- 
Scawfell,  115     (  ■ 


INDEX  OF 


LOCALITIES. 


Scudeinon-Gam,  136 
Settle,  94,  108,  125 
Severn  River,  129 
Shaugh  Bridge,  133,  136 
Sheep's  Tor,  136 
Shepton  Mallet,  133 
Silverdale,  loS 
Sleive  Bignian,  76 
Snowdon,  97,  loi 
Southgate,  125 
Staley,  125 
Staple  Tor,  133 
Stenton  Rocks,  117 
Stock  Gill  Force,  136 
Stonehaven,  124 
Surlingham  Broad,  109 
Svvaledale,  125 
Swanage  Cave,  123 

Tamar  River,  122 
Tan-y-Bwlch,  124 
Tavy  River,  122 
Teesdale,  94,  lOO,  125 
Temple  Michael  Glen,  78 
Thanet  Mountain,  95 
Thevilly,  136 
Tilgate  Forest,  133 
Titherstone  Clee  Hill,  70 
Tork  Mountains,  78,  126 
Tralee,  71 

Trecastle  Beacon,  125 
Treflack  Wood,  136 
Tremadoc,  124 
Trengwainton  Caim,  115 


Trosachs,  136 
Tunbridge  Wells,  133 
Turner's  Clough,  136 
Tweed  River,  117 
T\vll-du,  94,  126 

Urrisberg,  71 

Vale  of  Festiniog,  r 
Vale  ofNewlands,  1 15 
Vixen  Tor,  133,  136 

Wastwater,  115 
Watermouth,  70 
Waterville,  78 
Weardale,  125 
Wensley  Dale,  125 
West  Hoathley,  133 
Westleton,  109 
West  Lyn,  136 
Wharnclifle  Wood,  124 
Wharnside,  108 
Whitby,  133 
White  Scars,  loS 
White  Tor,  136 
Widdal  Fell,  125 
Wistman's  Wood,  136 
Wybourn,  123 
Wybunbuiy  Bog  109 

Yarmouth,  109 
Youghall,  78,  137 
Ystradgunlais,  126 


THE  END. 


Imperial  Quarto,  16  by  12  in,,  elegantly  bound  in  cloth,  price  8s. 


THE  FEEIT  PORTFOLIO, 

By  FRANCIS  GEORGE  HEATH, 

Includes  in  15  plates  elaborately  drawn  life  size,  exquisitely  coloured 
from  nature,  and  accompanied  by  descriptive  text,  all  the  species  of 
British  Ferns,  which  comprise  a  large  proportion  of  the  ferns  of 

America,  and  of  many  other  parts  of  the  world. 
*,*  This  work  stands  alone,  as  no  other  publication  dealing  with 
the  subject  gives  absolute  facsimiles  in  form,  colour,  and  venation 
of  the  fronds  of  ferns. 

Some  Opinions  of  "Heath's  Fern  Poptfolio." 

THE  AUTHOR  OF  "  LORNA  DOONE." 
"  The  plates  are  wonderful." 

THE  TIMES. 

"We  need  hardly  praise  the  '  Fern  Portfolio,'  seeing  that  it  is  one  of  the 
productions  of  Mr.  Heath.  Improving  upon  '  Our  Woodland  Trees,' in  which 
the  leaves  were  reduced,  this  portfolio  gives  a  series  of  life-size  representations 

of  the  fronds  of  our  British  ferns  The  volume  will  be  of  great 

interest  and  value  to  botanical  tourists  and  botanical  residents  in  the  countrj." 

FIELD. 

"  The  drawings  have  in  every  case  been  made  from  actual  specimens 
collected  by  the  author,  and  evidently  represent  the  characteristic  ferns  with 
much  accuracy.  To  persons  fond  of  collecting  ferns  the  work  will  be  a  boon, 
presenting,  as  it  does,  so  ready  a  means  of  identifying  the  specimens  they 
gather,  independently  of  the  botanical  description  printed  opposite  to  each 
species." 

GRAPHIC. 

"All  the  ferns  are  life-sized,  and  so  beautifully  done,  that  we  can  well 
believe  they  are  'absolute  facsimiles.'  " 

KNOWLEDGE. 

"  Nothing  more  beautiful  in  the  shape  of  botanical  illustrations  than  these 
life-sized  and  life-like  drawings  of  the  fronds  of  our  British  ferns  has  ever  been 

issued  So  admirably  are  the  figures  drawn  and  coloured  as  to  be 

for  all  practical  purposes  of  comparison  equivalent  to  the  plants  which  they 
copy  with  such  mmute  fidelity." 

GARDENER'S  CHRONICLE. 

"Within  the  limits  e.\pressly  prescribed  by  the  author  himself  we  have 
nothing  but  praise  to  bestow,  as  the  representations  of  the  fronds  are  life-like 
and  accurate." 

SCHOOL   BOARD  CHRONICLE. 

"  It  is  an  exquisite  and  unique  work." 

COLONIES   AND  INDIA. 
"  Fern  lovers  all  over  the  world  will  be  interested  in  this  work." 


London:  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge. 


SonctiT  for  Jromofin^  Cljrisiian  puotul^trs^. 


NATURAL    HISTORY  RAMBLES. 

Fcap.  Zvo.y  ivith  numerous  Woodcuis,  Cloth 
boards,  2S.  6d.  each. 


IN    SEARCH    OF  MINERALS. 
By  the  late  D.  T.  Ansted,  M.A.,  F.R.S. 

LAKES  AND  RIVERS. 

By  C.  O.  Groom  Napier,  F.G.S.,  Author  of  "The  Food,  Use, 
and  the  Beauty  of  British  Birds,"  &c.,  &c. 

LANE  AND  FIELD. 

By  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Wood,  M.A.,  Author  of  "  Homes  without 
Hands,"  &c.,  &c. 

MOUNTAIN  AND  MOOR. 

By  J,  E.  Taylor,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.,  Editor  of  "Science-Gossip." 

PONDS     AND  DITCHES. 

By  M.  C.  Cooke,  M.A.,  LL.D. 

THE  SEA-SHORE. 

By  Professor  P.  Martin  Duncan,  M.B.  (London),  F.R.S., 
Honorary  Fellow  of  King's  College,  London. 

THE  WOODLANDS. 

By  M.  C.  Cooke,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  Author  of  "  Freaks  and  Marvels 
of  Plant  Life,"  &c. 


UNDERGROUND. 
By  J.  E.  Taylor,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.,  Editor  of  "  .Science- Gossip." 


I     2  } 


s.  d. 

Animal  Creation  {The).  A  popular  Introduction  to 
Zoology.  By  the  late  Thomas  Rymer  Jones,  F.R.S. 
With  488  woodcuts.     Post  8vo   Cloth  boards    7  6 

Beauty  in  Common  Tilings.  Illustrated  by  12 
Drawings  from  Nature,  by  Mrs.  J.  W.  Whymper,  and 
printed  in  Colours,  with  descriptions  by  the  Author  of 
"  Life  Underground, "  &c.    4to  Cloth  boards  10  6 

Birds^  Nests  and  Eggs.    With  22  coloured  plates 

of  Eggs.    Square  l6mo   Cloth  boards    3  o 

Birds  of  the  Sea-shore.    With  1 2  coloured  plates. 

l6mo  Cloth  boards    I  8 

British  Birds  in  their  Haunts.  By  the  late  Rev. 
C.  A.  Johns,  B.A.,  F.L.S.  With  190  engravings  by 
W^olf  and  Whymper.    Post  8vo   Cloth  boards   7  6 

British  Animals.  With  1 2  coloured  plates.   1 6mo. 

Ornamental  covers    I  6 

Dew-drop  and  the  Mist  {The):  an  Account  of  the 
Phenomena  and  Properties  of  Atmospheric  Vapour  in 
various  Parts  of  the  World.  By  Charles  Tomlinson. 
With  woodcuts  and  diagrams.  F cap.  8vo.  ...Cloth  boards    2  6 

Evenings  at  the  Microscope  ;  or,  Researches  among 
the  Minuter  Organs  and  Forms  of  Animal  Life.  By 
Philip  H.  Gosse,  F.R.S.  A  new  Edition  revised  and 
annotated.  With  112  woodcuts.  Post  8vo.  Cloth  boards   4  o 

Fishes,  Natural  History  of  British  ;  their  Structure, 
Economic  Uses,  and  Capture  by  Net  and  Rod.  By  the 
late  Frank  Buckland.  With  numerous  Illustrations. 
Crown  8vo   Cloth  boards    5  o 

Flowers  of  the  Field.  By  the  late  Rev.  C.  A 
Johns,  B.A.,  F.L.S.  With  numerous  woodcuts. 
Fcap.  8vo   Cloth  boards    5  O 


(   3  ) 


s.  d. 

Forest  Trees  ( The)  of  Great  Britain,  By  the  late 
Rev.  C.  A.  Johns,  B.  A.,  F.  L.  S.  New  Edition. 
With  150  woodcuts.    Post  8vo  Cloth  boards    5  o 

Freaks  and  Marvels  of  Plant  Life  ;  or,  Curiosities 
of  Vegetation.  By  M.  C.  CoOKE,  M.A.,  LL.D.  With 
numerous  Illustrations.    Post  8vo  Cloth  boards    6  o 

Frozen  Stream  ( The) :  an  Account  of  the  Formation 
and  Properties  of  Ice  in  various  Parts  of  the  World. 
By  Charles  Tomlinson,  F.C.S.  With  woodcuts  and 
diagrams.    Fcap.  8vo  Cloth  boards    I  6 

Lessons  from  the  Animal  World.  By  Charles  and 
Sarah  Tomlinson.  With  162  woodcuts,  in  two 
volumes.    Fcap.  8vo   Cloth  boards    4  o 

Natural  History  {Illustrated  Sketches  of) :  consisting 
of  Descriptions  and  Engravings  of  Animals.  With 
numerous  woodcuts.    Fcap.  8vo.    Series  I.  and  II. 

Cloth  boards,  each  Vol.    2  6 

Natural  History  of  the  Bible  (The).  By  the  Rev. 
Canon  Tristram,  Author  of"  The  Land  oflsrael,"  &c. 
With  numerous  illustrations.  Crown  8vo.  Cloth  boards    7  6 

Ocean  {The).  By  Philip  Henry  Gosse,  F.R.S., 
Author  of  "Evenings  at  the  Microscope."  With  51 
illustrations  and  woodcuts.      Post  8vo.      Cloth  boards    4  6 

Our  Native  Songsters.  By  Anne  Pratt,  Author  of 
"  Wild  Flowers,"    With  72  coloured  plates.  i6mo. 

Cloth  boards    6  o 

Rain-Cloud  and  Sno7v- Storm  :  an  Account  of  the 
Nature,  Formation,  Properties,  Dangers,  and  Uses  of 
Rain  and  Snow.  By  C.  Tomlinson.  With  nume- 
rous woodcuts  and  diagrams.    Fcap.  8vo.    Cloth  boards    2  6 


{   4  ) 


s.  d. 

Selborne  {The  Natural  History  of ).  By  the  Rev. 
Gilbert  White.  With  Frontispiece,  Map,  and  50 
woodcuts.    Post  8vo  Cloth  boards    2  6 

Te7npest  {The);  an  Account  of  the  Origin  and 
Phenomena  of  Wind  in  various  Parts  of  the  World.  By 
Charles  Tomlinson.  Witli  numerous  woodcuts  and 
diagrams.    Fcap.  8vo  Cloth  boards    2  6 

Thunder-Storm  {The) :  an  Account  of  the  Pro- 
perties of  Lightning  and  of  Atmospheric  Electricity  in 
various  Parts  of  the  World.  By  Charles  Tomlinson. 
With  numerous  woodcuts  and  diagrams.    Fcap.  8vo. 

Cloth  boards    2  6 

Wild  Flowers.    By  Anne  Pratt,  Author  of  "  Our 

Native  Songsters,"  &c.    Witli   192  coloured  plates. 

In  two  volumes.    l6mo  Cloth  boards   12  o 

Winter  in  the  Arctic  Regions  and  Su?n7ner  in  t/ie 
Antarctic  Regions.  By  Charles  Tomlinson.  With 
two  maps,  and  several  illustrations  and  woodcuts. 
Crown  Svo  Cloth  boards    4  o 


J9tpo£!ttortf^ : 

NORTHUMBERLAND  AVENUE,  CHARING  CROSS,  W.C.; 

43,  QUEEN  victoria  STREET,  E.G.  ;    48,  PICCADILLy,  W.  ; 
AND  135,  NORTH  STREET,  BRIGHTON.