THK EUROPEAN BRISTLE FERN. 



thU iprcict, occur in nric**i pvU cf South Arctic** The Z/j»nwp*yl/#*i rwj*4trc of lindif i, wlikfc, fertile ipfvimmi 



Ot»Uc<4td l*y flfirJucr in ike Organ Mount &itu f »1igw to to & SFWrAooUMM, i* iutvly ttialinct ; m u the 7V*rApr**nr* 



aufspj (If «tf, G*/., IWi) of WftUich'i ova collection, of wLich fino specimrtu wore j;»ihff*\J in Auam by (IriflUK 

 Tlic plnul n»*(cr llii* number in tte Hookcrinn herbarium Jipjxara tlirtcront fnwn thai to Ibo WdLichiaa coUcclioo. 



llhizome black, creeping elongated, tomcutose, with small thick-set articulated dark-coloured jointed 

 hairs. Fibres black, stout, branched, densely tonicntoso. 



Stipes variable in length, from one-fourth to one-half the entire length of the frond, terete, margined 

 above with a narrow membranaceous wing, which is sometimes continued nearly to the base ; lateral, 

 adherent to the rhizome ; the base clothed with articulated hairs. Jiac/tis everywhere winged* 



Vernation circinate* 



Fronds six to twelve inches or more in length ; |>ellucido-mcmbranaccous, dark olive-green ; darker 

 when dry, quite smooth ; ovate-lanceolate, or triangular-ovate, more or less attenuated at the apex ; 

 tripinnatifid, or c | na< I ripimtat ifitL Primary divisions (ptnnavlike segments) ovate-lanceolate ; tho 

 secondary ones ovate, obtuse, cuneate at the base ; the tertiary ones oblique oblong; the ultimate lobes 

 oblong, toothed, the teeth short linear, entire, cmarginatc, or bifid. In highly developed fronds of the 

 triangular form the secondary divisions arc often longer and comparatively narrower, and the ultimate 

 divisions are more distant. The teeth at the apices of each scries of divisions are frequently inoro 

 elongated. 



Venation consisting of a scries of forked ramifications of the wiry ribs, which issue alternately from 

 the main rachis and enter (ho primary divisions j these are every where bordered with a pellucid wing 

 of a loosely cellular texture. The lowest anterior branch or veinlet of these veins in the ultimate 

 segments is, in the fertile fronds, continued beyond the margin, and forms the receptacle ; but hi the 

 barren portions the apices of the vcinlets do not quite reach the margin* 



Fructification scattered over the fronds, extra-marginal. i& the tubular involucres are projected 

 outwards from the margin, the opening being exterior. <SW consisting of sessile spore-cases, clustered 

 around the base of the filiform receptacle, which is free within the involucre, with its apex more or 

 less projected beyond it. Involucre cylindrical, cup-shaped, somewhat tapering below, open exteriorly, 

 supra-axillary, that is, produced in the upper axils of the (ultimate) lobes, more or less sunk in the 

 apex of one of the lotos or teeth, tho mouth sometimes slightly spreading, or shortly two-lipped, 

 SporC'casts sessile, oblique, latero-verticnlly compressed, roundish or obovatc. Spores irregularly 

 roundish or oblong, sometimes three- cornered, minutely jwipillose. 



Duration, The rhizome is perennial. The fronds are also persistent, enduring for many years 

 if not injured ; they arc at least two years arriving at tho fertile state* 



The pellucid, moderate-sized, much divided, yet not pinnated fronds of this species, produced from 

 a creeping rhizome, suffice to distinguish this plant from other Itritish Ferns. There are at least three 



forms or states of it met with in Ireland. One in which the fronds aro ovate-lanceolate, with tho 

 segments broader (Plate XLVIIL a.) most nearly according with T+ radiant* of Swartz, as illustrated 

 by llcdwig. Another, more triangular in outline, the segments appearing narrower (Plate XLVIIL a), 

 seems to represent the T. speeio&um of Willdcnow. A third with the fronds narrower and more 

 lanceolate, the primary divisions narrow, and, as well as the secondary ones, more distant or distinct 

 (Platk XLVIIL a), is the T. Andretcm of Newman, and is analogous to many of the tropical forms. 



In cultivation this Fern requires that its rhizome should be fixed to a firm and durable medium, for 

 which such materials as porous stone, or earthenware, or brick are most suitable ; and this must 

 to kept constantly moist with trickling water The rhizome then, as it grows, attaches itself in 

 the manner of ivy* To induce this growth of the rhizome and also a healthy growth of the fronds* a 

 constantly damp atmosphere is essential ; indeed the fronds themselves should to almost constantly 

 in a dripping state and always shaded. 



