26 FERNS OF THE LAKE COUNTEY 



green, triangular or ovately triangular in outline. The 

 barren fronds are generally as long as the stipes, bi or 

 tri-pinnate, and smooth. The segments or leaflets into 

 which they are cut are more or less wedge-shaped and 

 notched or cleft at their ends. The fertile fronds have 

 the leaflets of an oval or oblong or linear form. The 

 venation of the barren fronds consists of a slender vein 

 extending along each pinnule, casting off another into 

 each of its lobes, this again alternately branching, one 

 branch being directed towards every marginal point. 

 In the fertile fronds a midvein enters each ultimate di- 

 vision and passes sinuously to its point, throwing out 

 nearly to the margin alternate veins, usually simple but 

 sometimes forked, bearing a sorus near their ends. The 

 fructification usually occupies the whole system. The 

 son small, roundish, at first distinct though contiguous, 

 ultimately becoming laterally confluent and forming a 

 continuous line. Spore-cases small, elliptic obovate, 

 stalked. Spores smooth, roundish, oblong or bluntly 

 triangular. 



The Mountain Parsley Fern is peculiarly a mountain 

 plant, delighting in the shades and corners of boulders, 

 and to be among loose slate-stones, and at the feet of 

 the unmortared walls that wind about the fells and 

 mountains. It is well-fitted therefore for garden rock- 

 eries ; but is apt to die off in winter if allowed to be too 

 damp. 



HABITATS. Skiddaw, Keswick, Whinlatter, (W. 

 Christy), Borrowdale, Ennerdale, Scawfell, Helvellyn, 

 Blencathra, Kirkstone Pass, Ambleside, Coniston, Gras- 

 mere, &c., &c. 



