90 BRITISH FERNS. 



shortened pinnae, which form the apex of the frond, are 

 contracted and soriferous throughout. 



The venation, as seen in the barren fronds, consists of a 

 prominent midvein, bearing once or twice forked venules 

 proceeding to the margin in direct lines. In the fertile parts 

 of the frond, only the midrib of the pinnules is fully deve- 

 loped, and the spore-cases are attached to a small portion of 

 the venules which becomes developed just to serve as a re- 

 ceptacle. The spore-cases are subglobose, shortly stalked, 

 reticulated, and two-valved, opening vertically. 



The Osmund Royal is a widely- distributed plant, occurring 

 in favourable localities, that is, marshy and boggy situations, 

 throughout the United Kingdom, and, as already mentioned, 

 extremely abundant and luxuriant in some parts of Ireland. 

 It is common throughout Europe. 



This plant is especially suited, in cultivation, to occupy the 

 base of rockwork abutting upon a piece of water, where its 

 roots may be placed within the reach of the water. It 

 should have peat earth for its roots. The best way to esta- 

 blish it is, to procure strong vigorous patches from localities 

 where it abounds, and these, if removed carefully, will suc- 

 ceed perfectly. 



CHAPTER XXL 



THE MOONWORT. 



THE Botrychium or Moonwort is a small and very distinct plant, 

 easily known by two circumstances, first, it has two fronds or 

 rather two branches of its frond, the one of which is leafy, the 

 other seed-bearing; and secondly, the pinnae of the leafy 

 branch are crescent-shaped, with the outer margin jagged. 

 There is no other native plant which has these peculiar fea- 

 tures, and hence the Moonwort is a plant very easily recog- 

 nised when it is met with. There is another peculiarity in 

 this Fern which also serves to distinguish it, and its near 

 ally the Ophioglossum, from all other native species the ve- 

 nation is straight, not circinate ; that is, the fronds, before 

 they are developed, are not rolled up spirally, unrolling 

 as they expand, but in the incipient state the parts are merely 

 folded together by a flat surface. Only one species of Botry- 

 chium is indigenous. 



The name of the genus is derived from a Greek word sig- 

 nifying a clmter. 



