392 CUYPTOGAMIA FERNS. [CL. XXIV. 



nate ; leaflets linear, entire, dilated at the base. Fronds about a foot 



high, some bearing fruit, others none : the latter narrow lance-shaped, 

 tapering at the base, with hardly any stalk, their alternate leaflets slightly 

 curved upwards: the former with much narrower leaflets, more dilated 

 at the base, curved downwards, the stalk long and dark-brown. Peren- 

 nial : bears fruit in July : grows iu woods and heathy places: common. 

 Eng, Bot. vol.xvii. pi. 1159. Eng. Fl. vol. iv. p. 317. 1492. 



9. PTE'RIS. BEAKF. 



Sori linear, continuous, close to the margin, at the back of each 

 segment of the fertile fronds. Cover membranous, continuous, 

 formed by the inflected margin of the frond, opening at its inner 

 edge. Capsules numerous, stalked, globular, two-valved, with a 

 jointed ring. Seeds numerous, minute. Name, pteris, in Greek, 

 a fern. 468. 



1. P.aquilina. Common Brake. Frond thrice divided ; divisions lance- 

 shaped, their leaflets alternate, narrow lance-shaped, pinnate, the upper- 

 most entire ; segments somewhat lance-shaped, obtuse. Fronds from 



two to four feet high. It is used for thatching cottages, for which pur- 

 pose it is better adapted than almost any of our native plants, excepting 

 ling and broom. The ashes afford a pretty good alkali. Perennial: 

 bears fruit in July and August: grows on heaths, and in pastures and 

 woods : common. Eng. Bot. vol. xxiv. pi. 1679. Eng. Fl. vol. iv. 

 p. 318. 1493. 



2. P. crispa. Curled Brake. Barren frond alternately twice pinnate, 

 with inversely egg-shaped, cut, or deeply crenate segments ; fertile 



fronds thrice pinnate, with narrow, oblong segments. Fronds from 



six to twelve inches high, with long slender stalks. Perennial: bears 

 fruit from June to October : grows in stony mountainous places, in 

 Scotland, the north of England and Wales. Eiig. Bot. vol. xvii. pi. 

 1160. Eiig. Ft. vol. iv. p. 319. 1494. 



10. ADIA'NTUM. MAIDENHAIR. 



Sori roundish, marginal, distinct, at the back of the frond, each 

 attached to the centre of the under side of its cover, which is 

 formed by the inflected margin of the frond. Capsules several, 

 stalked, globular, two-valved, with a jointed ring. Seeds minute. 

 Name from adiantos, that which is of a dry nature. 469. 



1. A. Capillis-l'eneris. True Maidenhair. Frond twice compound; 



leaflets alternate, wedge-shaped, lobed on hair-like stalks. Fronds 



from six to twelve inches high, with slender dark-purplish stalks. Peren- 

 nial : bears fruit from IVlay to September: grows on rocks and walls: 

 rare. Dng. Bot. vol. xxii. pi. 15(34. Eng. Fl. vol. iv. p. 320. 1495. 



11. TRICHO'MANES. BRISTI.E-FFHN. 



Sori oblong or roundish, terminal, imbedded in the margin, or 

 segment of the frond. Cover pitcher-shaped, of the same texture 

 as the frond, and continuous with it, of one leaf opening outwards, 

 permanent. Capsules sessile, roundish, two-valved, with a jointed 

 ring, crowded at the base of a cylindrical common receptacle, with 



