THE BRAKES, OR BRACKED. 73 



cases are thus arranged in two linear sori, one on each side 

 the midvein ; these are distinct while young, but soon be- 

 come confluent, covering the whole under-surface of the 

 pinnae. The indusia, by which they are at first covered, 

 when mature, burst along that side towards the midrib, and 

 eventually become split across here and there, at points op- 

 posite some of the venules. 



The hard Fern is a rather common plant, occurring in 

 heathy and stony places, and preferring localities which are 

 rather damp than otherwise. It is found in variou* 1 *>arts of 

 Europe. 



In cultivation, this is a very suitable plant for damp shady 

 rockwork, and in such situations, planted in peaty soil, it 

 grows freely, and without requiring any special attention. 



CHAPTEK XIV. 



THE BRAKES, OK BRACKEN. 



THE Pteris or Bracken is the most common of all our Ferns. 

 It is that which occurs almost everywhere iu woods and in 

 sandy wastes, often appropriating to itself the whole surface 

 of the ground. It is variable in appearance, owing to diffe- 

 rences in its size and development dependent on the circum- 

 stances in which it grows. Its more usual size is from three 

 to four feet in height. Sometimes in dry, very sandy soil, 

 the plant becomes a pigmy, not reaching a foot in height, 

 and being merely bipinnate. The opposite extreme occurs 

 when the plant is growing on damp hedge-banks in warm, 

 shady lanes, where it attains eight or ten feet in height, and 

 is proportionately compound in its development. Under 

 circumstances which favour the most luxuriant development, 

 this common and usually vulgar-looking plant combines the 

 most noble and graceful aspect, perhaps, which is borne by 

 any of our indigenous species, its fronds scrambling up among 

 the bushes which sustain them at the base, while their grace- 

 ful feathery-looking tops form overhead a living arch of the 

 tenderest green. 



The Pteris is known among our native Ferns by having 

 the edges of all the little divisions of its fronds furnished 

 with a line of spore-cases. No other of our native species 

 has the fructification arranged in continuous lines except 

 Ptcris and Bfahnum; and the Pteris may be readily known 



