THE BUCKLER FERNS. 



43 



cases, is, in this species, small, thin, and shapeless, and is 

 soon thrown off and lost. 



The Marsh Buckler Fern has a FIG. 9. 



wide geographical range, and in 

 England and Wales occurs in nu- 

 merous localities; in Scotland and 

 Ireland it is rather uncommon. 



It is not a very attractive spe- 

 cies for cultivation, but grows freely 

 enough if plentifully supplied with 

 moisture, and allowed room to 

 spread. 



MOUNTAIN BUCKLER FERN. 



This Fern is named Lastrea mon- 

 tana, or perhaps more commonly 

 L. Oreopteris; it has also the sy- 

 nonymous names Aspidium Ore- 

 opteris, Polypodium Oreopteris, Po- 

 lypodium montanum, Polystichum 

 montanum, Lastrea montana, He- 

 mestheum montanum, and Phego- 

 pteris Oreopteris. 



This is a very elegant species, ^- 

 growing shuttlecock fashion around 

 the central crown which terminates 

 the stem, to the height of from two 

 to three feet ; and it is, moreover, 

 so fragrant, when drawn through 

 the hand, as to be recognised from 

 its kindred by this circumstance 

 alone. The fragrance is due to 

 the presence of numerous minute 



tlandular bodies on the lower sur- 

 ice, which being bruised when 

 the plant is handled, give out 

 strongly a peculiar balsamic fra- 

 grance by no means disagreeable, 

 accompanied by the peculiar 

 starchy odour which many Ferns 

 possess. The fronds are annual, 

 springing up about May, and en- 

 during through the summer. These 

 are erect, lance-shaped in their out- 

 line, pinnately divided the stipes Lastrea montana. 



