THE COMMON HARD FERN. 



Slechnum Spicant.* HOTH. 



BlecTinum (a Latinized form of the Greek Blechnori) 

 is only a Fern any kind ; but Spicant, erect and 

 spike-like, as an ear of corn, well expresses the peculiar 

 appearance of this plant, with its erect fertile frond 

 standing above the less erected barren fronds around 

 it. The Hard Fern, too, is a no less expressive title, 

 for the plant is hard, rigid and hardy too. It is one 

 of the few English Ferns producing distinct-looking 

 kinds of fronds fertile and barren. The barren grow 

 in tufts, very gracefully and droopingly disposed, from 

 six to twelve inches high ; and in the centre of them, 

 always higher, and sometimes twice their height, rises 

 the hard upright fertile frond. The barren fronds are 

 attached to the caudex by a very short scaly stipes, 

 the stipes of the fertile frond also scaly ; the scales long- 

 pointed and sparse, are half the length of the whole 

 frond, and of a dark brown. Both kinds are narrow 

 lanceolate, the barren being only deeply pinnatifid, 

 while the fertile are pinnate ; the segments in both are 

 long and narrow, like the teeth of a comb. The vena- 



* Osmunda Spicant (Linnaus), Asplenium Spicant, Lomaria 

 Spicant, Blcchnum borcnle, &c. 



