THE WOODSIAS. 83 



almost concealed. The stipes is also scaly, and, as occurs in 

 a whole group of these Woodsias, has a joint or articulation 

 at a short distance from its base, at which point separation 

 takes place if the fronds are left on to attain a good old age, 

 the lower part remaining attached to the caudex, while the 

 upper part falls away. The yeining of the segments of the 

 pinnae consists of a rather indistinct midvein, from which 

 the venules, either simple or branched, proceed towards the 

 margin, near to which the sori are produced. 



ALPINE WOODSIA,' 



The name of this species is Woodsia alpina. It has also been 

 called W. hyperborea. Their rarity rather than their beauty 

 invests these plants with interest for the cultivator. They 

 require to be kept in a cold shady frame, to be potted in 

 porous soil amongst lumps of stone, to be carefully guarded 

 against drought or stagnant moisture, and to be rarely dis- 

 turbed at the root. 



This is a diminutive species, never ex- Fio.24. 

 ceeding a few inches in stature, and renew- 

 ing its fronds annually in the spring, the 

 older ones being destroyed by the frosts 

 and cold of winter ; the fronds are cast off 

 at the articulation or joint near _ the base 

 of the stipes, which occurs in this family. 

 The plant grows in a tufted manner, send- 

 ing up several fronds from the crown. The 

 fronds are longish and narrow ; they are 

 pinnately divided into several roundish tri- 

 angular pinnae, which are shallowly lobed 

 on the margin, and are usually set on alter- 

 nately along the opposite sides of the stalk 

 or rachis ; those towards the lower part are 

 usually placed at a greater distance apart 

 than those near the upper end. They are 

 nearly smooth on the surface, and, in this 

 respect, unlike those of the kindred species, 

 which have a much more hairy appearance ; 

 small hair-like scales, in company with 

 hairs, are however present in this species, 

 The midvein of the pinnae is indistinct, and 

 throws out venules into each lobe, these venules being more 

 or less branched according to the size of the lobes. The 

 eori are placed near the extremity of the venules, and are 



