110 FERNS OF THE LAKE COUNTRY 



being parallel, slightly curved, and once or twice forked 

 before reaching the margin, where they are lost. In 

 the fertile parts of the frond only the midrib of the 

 pinnules is fully developed, and the spore-cases are 

 attached to a small portion of the veins, which becomes 

 developed just to serve as a receptacle. The spore- 

 cases are of a reddish-brown, nearly globe-shaped, 

 shortly stalked, reticulated, and two-valved, the valves 

 opening vertically. 



The Flowering Fern grows naturally in wet, springy, 

 or boggy places, not much above the sea-level in Eng- 

 land, and sometimes on the sea-shore hardly above 

 high-water mark. It is common throughout Europe ; 

 is found in Asia, in Mingrelia, and in India ; in North 

 and South Africa, in the Azores, and in Madagascar ; 

 and in North and South America, in Canada and New- 

 foundland, the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. It 

 is of easy culture, needing only moisture and a peaty 

 soil in any sheltered situation. The caudex is said to 

 possess tonic and styptic properties ; according to 

 Gerard, the "root" boiled or stamped, and taken with 

 some kind of liquor, is " thought to be good for those 

 that are wounded, dry-beaten, and bruized." In Cum- 

 berland and Westmorland, and that adjoining part of 

 Lancashire which should be Westmorland also, it is 

 known as the " bog-onion," and held in esteem as an 

 external application for bruizes, sprains, &c. The cau- 

 dices are beaten, covered with cold spring water, and 

 allowed to macerate all night ; the thick starchy fluid 

 thus formed being used to bathe the parts affected. 



HABITATS. Windermere (T. G. Kylands), Lough- 



