43 



The name, first applied by Roth, from the Greek dOvpos, open, 

 probably refers to the turning back of the indusium. 



ATHYRIUM FILIX-FCEMINA. Lady-Fern. TAB. XXV. 



Fronds lanceolate, bipinnate: pinnae linear-lanceolate, acuminate: 

 pinnules oblong-lanceolate, deeply serrated or pinnatifid. 



Athyrium Filix-fcemina, Roth. Babington. Moore. Newman. 

 Asplenium Filix-foemina, Bernhardi. Hooker and Arnott. 

 Aspidium Filix-fo3mina, Swartz. Smith. E. B. Polypo- 

 dium, Linnaus. 



It occurs in most parts of the kingdom, less universal in its 

 distribution than Lastrea Filix-mas, but equally abundant in those 

 localities that are adapted to its growth. Moist, shady situations 

 are essential to its full development, and though occasionally a few 

 stunted plants may be found on the exposed heath and hill- side, it 

 is on the sheltered hedge-bank, and in the damp wood and ravine, 

 that it attains the graceful and almost fragile character, which 

 acquired for it in long past times the popular name. The fronds 

 appear in May, springing in succession from the crown of a thick 

 and more or less elongated rhizoma, which occasionally, in old 

 plants, rises above the ground, in the form of a trunk or stipes, 

 from a few inches to a foot or more in height : their early develop- 

 ment is very similar to that described under L. Filix-mas, p. 19, 

 and they not unfrequently assume the vase-like arrangement of 

 those of the latter fern; in which case, and when of large size 

 especially, few vegetable productions equal this in grace and beauty. 

 In the subalpine parts of the country I have often noticed speci- 

 mens so charactered, in which the central fronds had a height of 

 between four and five feet and were nearly erect, while the outer 

 ones drooping in every direction around them, the whole comprised 

 the most lovely arrangement of light green feathery foliage that it 

 is possible to conceive. I once counted thirty-seven fronds com- 

 posing such a tuft. The general outline varies from a broad, 

 almost ovate, to a linear-lanceolate, and the rachis, generally bare 

 from about one-third to a fourth of its length, is sometimes feathered 

 with pinnae gradually diminishing in size almost to its base. The 

 pinnae are much diversified as to disposition, being either alternate 

 or opposite, distant or close together, in different specimens. In 

 some instances the bipinnate character is departed from, the pin- 

 nules being decurreut. The division and serrature of the pinnules 

 are equally variable, and though the venation, owing to the delicate 

 texture of the frond, is readily traced, it is far from presenting that 

 regularity in its branching which would render it worthy of notice. 

 The position of the sori is always on the upper or anterior side of 



F2 



