76 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND FERNS. 



" Hay-scented Buckler-fern, a variety of Nephroditim spinu- 

 losum distinguished by the fragrance indicated by its name." 



It has a short, stout, :scaly rootstock, almost erect. The 

 fronds are from one foot to three feet in length, triangular, with 

 a tapering apex, partly thrice pinnate. The lower part of the 

 stipes is densely clothed with scales which have the edges 

 fringed. The stipes and rachis are very tough and not easily 

 snapped as in N. spinulosiim. The underside of the frond is 

 sprinkled with glands which give off the distinctive fragrance, 

 both in the fresh and dried conditions. The pinnules all have 

 their edges turned upwards, so that from above they are all 

 concave. On this account a former name of the fern was 

 recurva. The lowest pair of pinnae are developed like those of 

 dilatatum. On the indusia the glands are stalkless ; they are 

 absent from the edges, though these are fringed. 



It is found in shady thickets in the hilly districts throughout 

 the country, but chiefly in the south and west ; being what is 

 termed a local species. Outside our own country, it appears to 

 be known only in Madeira and the Azores. 



The name cemulum is Latin, and indicates that this fern 

 rivals its sister-species in beauty. 



Marsh Buckler-fern (Nephrodium tMypteris). 



Whatever doubts or difficulties of separation and identifica- 

 tion may beset us when dealing with the spiny-toothed section 

 of the Buckler-ferns, we have no such troubles when we meet 

 with the Marsh-fern. It is true that we may pass by on the 

 other side misled by the distant view into the belief that we are 

 looking at a colony of rather spindly Lady-ferns ; but on a closer 

 examination the Marsh-fern will prove to be as clearly and 

 sharply defined as the veriest tyro in fern-matters could wish. 

 It may be sufficiently abundant in its station for the fronds to 

 come up in a somewhat confuse^ 1 crowd, but an inspection of 



