THE FEMALE BUCKLE R FERN, 

 OE MAESH FEEN. 



Last rea Thelypteris.* PEESI-. 



The Lastreas (not Lastrseas as often written) take 

 their name from M. deLastre. They are to he known 

 from Polysticlium (both belonging to the Aspidiese) 

 by the outline of the indusium, which is kidney-shaped, 

 or roundish with a notch in the side, the attachment 

 to the frond being at the notched part. There are no 

 less than eight species of this genus found in Great 

 Britain (and in the Lake District), and the group in- 

 cludes some of the largest, the commonest, and the 

 most elegant of our ferns. 



The name of Marsh Fern (sometimes Marsh Buckler 

 Fern) comes of course from the place of growth, peaty 

 bogs or marshy land. 



The rhizome creeps extensively, sparingly branched, 

 producing fronds at intervals, slender, smooth and 

 blackish brown, having a few pale brown scales at the 

 growing point, and numerous fibres. The stipes is as 

 long as or longer than the leafy portion in the fertile 

 frond, rather shorter and slighter in the barren, the 

 whole frond growing to the height of from six inches 

 to more than three feet, the fertile fronds the taller. 



*The Polypodium Thelypteris of Linnaeus, also Aspidium The- 

 lypteris, Polystichum Thelypteris, Athyrium Thelypteris, &c. 



