The Marsh Fern 



falling into the hands of marauding Danes by hiding 

 her among the tall fronds of the Royal Fern. The 

 large, whitish core of the rootstock is referred to by 

 one old writer as "The Heart of Osmund." 



Which is the correct derivation of Osmunda^ and 

 why this fern has been so called, it is difficult to say 

 definitely. Regalis is, of course, Latin for " royal " or 

 " kingly," an obvious reference to the majestic appear- 

 ance of the fern. 



Let us now leave the river bank and explore the 

 peaty bogs. There we expect to find the Marsh Fern 

 which, it should be noted, is much rarer in Scotland 

 and Ireland than in the South of England. 



It is one of the Buckler Ferns, and as there are seven 

 ferns of this family, we had better give some attention 

 to the marks by which these ferns may always be 

 recognized. Turning to the sori, we notice that they 

 are circular and covered with a kidney-shaped (roughly 

 circular, but notched) indusium, which is attached to 

 the leaf segments near to the notch. We must be very 

 careful to examine the sori of these ferns, before they 

 are mature, as in some cases the indusium disappears 

 entirely, and we have great difficulty in recognising 

 the plant under examination as belonging to this class 

 of ferns. The delicate green fronds of the Marsh 

 Buckler Fern are of two kinds barren and fertile. 

 The latter are so-called, because the frond segments 

 are spore-bearing, while the former are quite destitute 

 of spores. Both fronds are lanceolate in outline and 

 35 



