THE BUCKLER FERNS. 241 



abundant moisture and complete shade, and sandy 

 peat and leaf-mould for soil. Then it may be 

 grown successfully in the open rockery, in the 

 fern case, or in open pots in the house. 



4. THE RIGID BUCKLER FERN. 

 Lastrea rigida. 



THIS fern is local in its distribution ; very rare 

 in Ireland, and not found at all in Scotland or 

 Wales. But in some parts of the north of 

 England, especially in the mountainous limestone 

 districts, it is found in abundance. It appears to 

 prefer a limestone soil : and in cultivation it is 

 beneficial to water it with lime-water. When 

 growing wild it is usually found from one to two 

 feet high. Its fronds are somewhat narrow and 

 triangular, with branches alternately placed on 

 each side of the rachis. The branches are lance- 

 shaped, having on each side, over and under the 

 stem, a row of leaflets, largest next the rachis, and 

 becoming shorter towards the point of the branch. 



16 



