CHAPTER VII. 



THE FILMY FERNS. 



I. THE TUNBRIDGE FILMY FERN. 

 Hymenophyllum tunbridgense. 



/ nPHE Filmy Ferns form a sort of connecting 

 link between the ferns and the mosses. 

 They are the tiniest of all the British ferns, 

 forming little tufts oftentimes only one inch in 

 length ; but sometimes growing to a length of 

 six inches. 



The Tunbridge Filmy Fern so called because 

 it was first noticed in the neighbourhood of 

 Tunbridge Wells is a tiny moss-like plant found 

 growing on rocks and boulders in the immediate 

 vicinity of streams of water. The filmy, pellucid 

 texture of the fronds would shrivel up, were the 

 plant exposed to dry, hot air. It can only there- 

 fore exist in a constant atmosphere of moisture, 

 such as is to be found where water is continually 



