232 THE FERN PARADISE. 



and three feet ; but, under favourable circum- 

 stances, it sometimes grows to a height of four 

 feet. Then, indeed, it is a really beautiful object : 

 its fronds thrown up shuttlecock fashion around 

 its fine tufted crown, and so neatly and closely 

 arranged as to present inside a circular wall 

 densely clothed with scales, and resembling very 

 much in that respect the appearance presented 

 by the Soft Prickly Shield Fern. But the tips of 

 the fronds of the Male Fern have not the same 

 drooping habit as Polystickum angulare ; being 

 on the contrary, thrown up, as it were, defiantly. 

 Perched on the open side of a high embankment, 

 a grand specimen of the Male Fern, fully developed, 

 with all its fronds mature, presents a peculiarly 

 striking appearance. 



The frond of the Male Fern is lance-shaped 

 broadly so tapering up and down ; towards 

 its point, and towards its base. It is, there- 

 fore, broadest at its centre. The basal tapering 

 is not carried to a point as at the top of the 

 frond ; but merely admits of the lowest leaflets 

 being somewhat shorter than those in the centre. 



