THE BLADDER FERNS. 221 



find that this pair, besides being much smaller, 

 has not the same disproportion between the upper 

 and lower leaflets, although those of the upper 

 row are somewhat shorter than those of the lower 

 one. On this second pair of branches the leaflets 

 near the main rachis are more deeply cleft than 

 those away from it towards the point of the 

 branch. The same process of gradual diminution 

 goes on towards the highest point of the frond, 

 branches becoming shorter and less divided until 

 they merge into leaflets, which in their turn 

 become shorter, smaller, and less cleft or serrated, 

 until they merge in the extreme tip of the frond 

 itself. The general shape of the frond, including 

 the whole of its leafy portion, is triangular ; each 

 of the lowest pair of branches is also triangular; 

 the other branches are first lance-shaped, and as 

 they merge into leaflets, these become somewhat 

 egg-shaped. The distinct lobes of the leaflets, 

 near the main rachis on the lower part of the first 

 pair of branches, are also somewhat egg-shaped. 



The same conditions of soil, moisture, and situa- 

 tion required by Cystopteris regia will avail for 



