THE FEKN FAMILY. 481 



and other undershnibs, over which the feathery fronds bend in Hving arches. 

 Wlieu the stem is pulled out of the ground, and cut through slantwise, the figure 

 of a spread-eagle is presented, whence the name Aquilina. The resemblance is 

 closer, perhaps, to the portrait of an oak-tree, with its short and massive trunk 

 and spreading branches. The stem is angular, and rather sharp-edged when 

 full-grown, and should be grasped tightly, or it may cut the hand. In the woods 

 by Lymm water grows a pretty variety with the pinnules crisped. 



19. FiZMT-F^nnj—iffymenop/iyUum Tunhridgense.) 



In caves at Seal Bark, Greenfield, sparingly (J. P.), the only locality 



near Manchester. 



Curtis, iii. 5.58 ; E. B. iii. 102. 



20. OssiUNDA — {Osmunda regdlis.) 

 Chiefly on damp heaths and moors, and in the ditches bordering 

 them ; occasionally in woods and doughs : on the north side of Man- 

 chester, sparingly ; on the south and south-east, abundant. In ditches 

 about Timperley, Carrington, and Baguley. Abundant at Knutsford ; 

 and on Peover Heath, Camersham Heath, and elsewhere about Chel- 

 ford and Holmes Chapel. Barton Moss. Wood in Heaton Park. 

 Fallowfield. (O. A. Ferris, Esq.) Fine and plentiful in the lane 

 leading from Warburton Moss towards Dunham Station. (Mrs. 

 Brownell.) Near Dean Moss, Newton-in- the- Willows, six feet high. 



(Mr. Leigh.) 



Curtis, iv. 046 ; E. B. iii. 209. 



A magnificent plant, both in its stature and the great panicles of spore-cases, 

 resembling minute brown flowers, which surmount a large number of the fronds. 

 Curious abnormal developments of the panicle are not uncommon. Sometimes 

 the lower half of a branch will be leafy, and the upper half consist of spore-cases ; 

 sometimes the upper will be the leafy part, and the lower one the sporiferous ; 

 and sometimes there is a medley of the two. 



21. Moon WORT — [Botrychium Lundria.) 

 Open, hilly, and heathy meadows and pastures ; not uncommon on 

 the north and north-east of Manchester. Above Ashton, Oldham, 

 and Bury. Plentiful on Tandlc Hill and in Hop\yood Park, both near 

 Middleton. Pasture above Strines Printworks. (Mr. Sidebotham.) 

 Abundant in meadows near Reddish Mill, opposite Arden Hall. 

 Rivington Pike and Horwich Moor. (R. H.) 



Curtis, iii. .553; E. B. v. :?18 (as Osmunda Lundria). 



22. Adder's-tongue — [Ophiogldssum vulgdtum.) 

 Moist meadows and pastures, common, but often concealed by the 

 grass ; also in doughs and damp woods. Ashley Wood. Cotterill 



