22 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND FERNS. 



genus under the belief that it was derived from T/trir, trixos, a 

 hair or bristle, and manos, flexible ; but doubt exists as to 

 whether this is the correct derivation. Radicans, the specific name, 

 refers to the abundance of the root-hairs all along the creeping 

 rootstock, which are more in evidence than in most ferns. 

 Withering calls it Wing-stalked Goldilocks (Plates 15, 16). 



The foregoing three species are the sole British representa- 

 tives of ferns with translucent thin fronds, constituting the 

 Hymenophyllea. The succeeding twelve genera, constituting 

 the Polypodiece, have more or less opaque, leathery fronds. 

 The sporanges are on the back of the frond or along its 

 margins, and are not completely encircled by the elastic ring, 

 which in this group is vertical (Plate 17). The twelve genera 

 include over thirty species, among which are the most widely 

 diffused and best-known of our native ferns. 



Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris). 



Though a very familiar object as a cultivated plant, the 

 Maidenhair Fern growing in its natural haunt is a rare sight 

 for the botanist in this country. It has probably never been 

 plentiful with us, as it is unable to survive our winter climate 

 except in a few sheltered places near the sea on our south-west 

 and western coasts. But to-day, even in such places, its only 

 chance of survival lies in its selection of a cave or nook on 

 some part of the cliffs difficult of access. Everybody knows 

 the cultivated Maidenhair, and the sight of the graceful fronds 

 of our native species hanging out from a cleft of the rock would 

 be too much for the cupidity of most persons. 



Like the Killarney Fern, the Maidenhair has a creeping 

 rootstock covered with scales and branching frequently. The 

 new fronds arise from the growing points of these branches, 

 and are at first delicate, naked, reddish balls. The lengthening 

 slender stipes rapidly assumes a purplish-black hue, and 



