OBLONG WOODSIA. 55 



until we have simply the sorus surrounded by a circle of filaments 

 that curve over and protect it. This circumstance, as already 

 mentioned, led to the belief that there was no indusium, and the 

 filaments taken in conjunction with the real hairs on the back 

 and fringing the edges, led one early writer to call it the Hair 

 Fern. The sori are mature in July and August, when by their 

 increased size they become confluent, and almost cover the 

 small pinnae. 



This must be considered as one of the very rarest of our 

 ferns, having only a few stations in this country and these 

 at the highest elevations. Lhuyd first discovered it in 1680 

 growing on the precipitous flanks of Clogwyn-y-Garnedd, part 

 of the Snowdon Range. There it is still said to hold its 

 position. There is little danger in giving continued publicity to 

 this locality for it, for " Clogwyn-y-Garnedd " covers a con- 

 siderable acreage and affords some of the most dangerous work 

 for the Snowdon climbers. Other British stations are in Scot- 

 land Rannoch, Ben Lawers and Ben Chonzie in Perthshire ; 

 Glen Isla and Glen Fiadh in the Clova Mountains of Forfarshire. 

 It has not been reported from Ireland. Beyond our borders 

 it is found in Arctic and Northern Europe, as also in the 

 Alpine regions of Central Europe ; in Northern Asia, Himalaya, 

 and North America. 



The name hyperborea is Latin, and means far north, a name 

 that accords well with its strictly alpine habit. The English 

 name is merely a book-name. 



Oblong Woodsia (Woodsia ilvensis). 



This species differs but slightly from the Alpine Woodsia, 

 and some botanists deny its distinctness. The general details 

 of habit, rootstock, jointed stipes, etc., given as applying to the 

 last species, apply equally to this. But the frond is somewhat 

 larger (i to 6 inches), the pinnae longer and more oblong, more 



