56 HOW TO KNOW THE FERNS 



frond concave. The outline of the fronds is 

 roughly triangular, being widest at the base. 

 The fronds are about one or two feet in length, 

 and the stipes is about equal to the leafy 

 portion. The pinnae are arranged either in 

 pairs or alternately on either side of the stalk. 

 These are divided into pinnules which, in some 

 cases, towards their bases are again divided. 

 The fronds are of an exceptionally bright green 

 colour, and when bruised give out a pleasant 

 odour not unlike that of new hay. This is due 

 to the secretions of small glands which are to be 

 found on the undersides of the fronds. 



The sori on the backs of the fronds are 

 arranged in lines on either side of the mid-veins 

 of the lobes. These are covered with kidney- 

 shaped indusia. 



The Hay Scented Buckler Fern cannot be said 

 to be common, although it has a wide distribu- 

 tion and may turn up in unexpected places. It 

 is more abundant in the West of England and 

 in Ireland than elsewhere. It only flourishes in 

 damp places, and this point must be borne in 

 mind when planting it in the garden. The Hay 

 Scented Buckler Fern is an evergreen species. 



Nephrodium rigidum. The specific name 

 Latin for " stiff " is evidently bestowed on 

 the plant on account of its erect habit of growth. 

 The species is also called Lastrea rigida. The 

 Rigid Buckler Fern. 



This species is quite the rarest of all the 

 Buckler Ferns. The plant has a thickish root- 

 stock from which arise the fronds, usually 

 about a foot in length. The stipes is, as a rule, 

 about half the length of the entire leaf ; the bare 

 portion of the stalk is thickly covered with 

 brown scales. The outline of the frond is some- 

 what variable; on occasion, examples may be 



