THE COMMON MOONWORT 115 



separate branches of the frond, one branch spreading, 

 leafy, oblong, pinnate, with its crescent-shaped or fan- 

 shaped pinnae filled with a radiating series of twice or 

 thrice-forked veins, one vein extending into each of the 

 rounded teeth or lobes into which the margin is divided, 

 the other branch erect, fertile, compoundly branched, 

 that is first divided into branches like the pinnae, then 

 again into further branches, on which, distinct, but 

 clustered, the grape-like stalkless spore-cases are pro- 

 duced. The spore-cases are two-valved, and open 

 transversely when ripe. The valves are concave. Oc- 

 casionally, but very rarely, there are two branches : 

 and a variety has the pinnae pinnatifid. 



The Moonwort is widely but sparsely scattered 

 over the British Isles ; and is found also in all quarters 

 of the globe, including Tasmania and the Australian 

 Alps in Victoria. It ranges from the sea-line to 3,000 

 feet above it. It has not generally been very success- 

 fully cultivated ; but it seems may be, if taken up with 

 a sufficiently large sod, and carefully kept cool and 

 equally moistened. Even in the natural state it is 

 unable to bear much drought. 



HABIT ATS. -Res wick, near Aspatria (Rev. J. Dodd), 

 Braystones, Muncaster Fells, Furness Fells above 

 Coniston Water. 



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