104< 



BRITISH FERNS. 



Its roots and rhizoma, if these distinctive names may be still 

 retained, resemble those of the Moonwort: its single frond 

 makes its appearance in May with an erect, straight vernation, 

 sheds its seed in August, and soon after withers and disappears : 

 a few only of the fronds are fertile, nearly nine-tenths being 

 without fructification; its average size is rather larger than 

 represented in the figure. 



The fertile frond is composed of a. Inno-. smooth, h nl 1 ow 





