MAIDENHAIR FERN. 23 



becomes hard as wire and polished. It does not branch until 

 about half the ultimate full length of the entire frond has been 

 reached, and then the pinnae are given off alternately. The 

 pinnules are wedge-shaped, the free margin unequally toothed. 

 The upper pinnae are also wedge-shaped, but undivided, so that 

 they are easily confused with pinnules such as are on the 

 lower pinnae. The rachis and its branches, though wiry and 

 hard, are as fine as hairs ; and the blue-green expansion of 

 the pinnae, though thin and delicate-looking, is somewhat 

 leathery, with a rather dull surface from which water rolls off 

 without wetting it. The frond is often thrice pinnate, and in 

 its natural haunts it is evergreen (Plate 18). 



The sori are round and are disposed in a row along the 

 margin of a lobe of the pinnule, which is turned down over 

 them to constitute a somewhat kidney-shaped indusium. The 

 turning down of the lobe appears to have the effect of prevent- 

 ing the development of the green colouring matter in the 

 turned-down portion, for it is colourless until the spores are 

 ripe, when it becomes brown. The spores may be found from 

 May to September. The fertile and barren fronds in this species 

 are similar in appearance. Few ferns can boast of economic 

 uses, but the Maidenhair affords a refreshing drink called 

 Capillaire, and a wash for promoting the growth of hair. 



The home of the Maidenhair is in nooks and niches of 

 moist rocks, chiefly by the sea, or at least within the influence 

 of the moisture-laden sea-breezes. But it is only in isolated 

 places in Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Barry Island (Glamorgan- 

 shire), the Isle of Man, the West of Ireland, and the Channel 

 Islands, that it has been found in recent years. The search for 

 it in suitable places would give a decided zest to the study of 

 ferns ; but we would beg any of our readers who may be 

 successful in such search to be content with the glory of having 

 tracked it, and to leave the Maidenhair untouched in the hope 

 that it may increase in numbers. 



