iM.] PILICES. 463' 



linear-lanceolate or oblong, bright opaque green above, beneath densely 

 clothed with rusty ovate toothed scales ; segments ^-^ in., horizontal, broadly 

 ovate or oblong, quite entire, lower segments free ; sinus broad, deep, 

 rounded. Sori linear, hidden under the scales ; involucre a very narrow 

 membrane, or a mere ridge on the swollen nerve. DISTRIB. Europe from 

 Belgium southwards, N. Africa, W. Asia to the N.W. Himalaya. 



8. SCOLOPEN'DRIUM, Siff. HART's-TONGUK. 



Rootstock stout, short, inclined. Fronds tufted, simple, coriaceous; veins 

 free or anastomosing. Sori linear on opposite contiguous veins, almost 

 confluent ; involucre linear, attached to the vein, those of the contiguous 

 sori opening opposite one another. DISTRIB. Temp, and trop. regions ; 

 species 9. ETYM. The old Greek name. 



1. S. vulga're, Sm. ; frond oblong-ligulate, base cordate. 

 Hedgebanks, rocks, copses, &c.; frt. July- Aug. Rootstock very stout and 

 stipes and often midrib clothed with subulate scales. Stipes very stout, 

 4-8 in. Fronds 6-18 in., broadest in the middle, coriaceous, flaccid, bright 

 green ; basal lobes usually auricled, converging ; margin undulate ; mid- 

 rib stout, veins in groups of 2-4, indistinct, free or casually anastomo- 

 sing, horizontal. Sori parallel, at right angles to the midrib, very variable 

 in length and number. DISTRIB. Europe from Gothland southwards, N. 

 Africa, W. Siberia, Japan, W. Asia, N.W. America. A multitude of 

 varieties of this plant are cultivated, presenting a wonderful series of in- 

 teresting variations from the normal state of the plant. 



9. WOOD'SIA, Br. 



Rootstock short, tufted. Stipes usually articulate above the base. 

 Fronds pinnate. Sori globose ; involucre inferior, membranous, at first 

 calyciform, then usually breaking up into capillary segments. DISTRIB. 

 Arctic and N. temp, regions, Andes, S. Africa ; species 14. ETYM. J. 

 Woods, an eminent English botanist. 



1. W. hyperbo'rea, Br. ; frond linear-lanceolate pinnate, pinnae ovate- 

 cordate with few broad entire lobes. 



Wet alpine rocks of Carnarvon and Perth, alt. 2,000-3,000 ft. ; absent from 

 Ireland ; fl. July- Aug. Rootstock stout, subelongate. Fronds 3-6 in., 

 densely tufted. Stipes shining, fragile at the base, clothed with ferrugi- 

 nous scales. Pinnce subdistant, %^ in., pubescent and ciliate ; veins simple 

 and forked. Sori 3-5 on each lobe. DISTRIB. Arctic, N. and Alps of Mid. 

 Europe, N.E. Asia, Himalaya, N. America. 



2. W. ilven'sis, Br. ; frond broadly lanceolate, pinnae ovate-oblong 

 obtuse deeply pinnatifid with many oblong subcrenate lobes. 



Wet alpine rocks, from N. Wales and Durham to Dumfries, Perth, and Forfar ; 

 absent from Ireland ; frt. July-Sept. Very nearly allied to W. hyper- 

 borea, but more erect and scaly ; pinnae narrower, more deeply divided. 

 DISTRIB. Alps of Scandinavia (Arctic), S. Germany, N. Asia, Himalaya, N. 

 America. Probably a subspecies of W. hyperborea. 



1O. CYSTOP'TERIS, Bernh. BLADDER-FERN. 

 Delicate flaccid ferns. Rootstock short or creeping. Fronds tufted or 



scattered, 1-4-pinnate ; veins pinnate or forked, venules free. Sori small, 



