62 BRITISH FERNS. 



LADY FERN. 



ATHYRIUM FILIX-FEMINA. Roth, Presl. 



Aihyrium irriguum, and Icetum. Gray. 



Asplenium Filix-femina. Bernhardi, Hooker, Mackay, Don, 



Francis, 



Aspidium Filix-femina and irriguum. Smith. 

 Polypodium Filix-femina and rhceticum. Linneus, Hudson, 



Berkenhout. 

 Polypodium Filix-femina. Lightfoot, Bolton, Withering. 



LOCALITIES. 

 ENGLAND, "i 



JoJJJ^; } Universally, but not equally distributed. 

 IRELAND. J 



THE name Lady Fern, long since given to this species, is 

 eminently expressive of its graceful appearance. The great Ray 

 applied the term femina to our common brakes, but I think that 

 Linneus has done well in transferring it to the present delicate 

 and lady-like species. It is so fragile, that it droops instantly on 

 being gathered. 



In opposition to the views of many eminent botanists, I feel 

 inclined to return the Lady Fern to. the genus Athyrium of 

 Roth, which I think must also include the Allantodia australis of 

 Brown. But I doubt whether I can agree with Presl in placing 

 Asplenium Halleri, and A. fontanum in the same group. 

 Besides Allantodia australis of Brown, there are several ferns 

 possessing the same characters and habits as filix-femina, which 

 I would also include : the genus may be known by the elongate 

 and somewhat sausage-shaped mass of thecae, the attachment 

 of which describes a concave, instead of a direct line, as in the 

 Asplenia. A. australis differs from filix-femina in having the 

 free margin of the indusium more obviously incurved over the 

 mass of thecae. 



The root is black, fibrous, and wiry. The rhizoma is vertically 



