62 HOW TO KNOW THE FERNS 



there are only a few recorded localities of it in 

 England and Wales. It makes its home on 

 moist rocks on the slopes of high mountains. 

 This little Fern is fairly easily cultivated. The 

 fronds disappear in the winter. 



Woodsia ilvensis. The specific name refers to 

 the island of Elba (Ilva) , where this plant was 

 first of all discovered. In some quarters this 



Woodsia ilvensis. The Oblong Woodsia. 



plant is held to be merely a variety of W. 

 hyperborea. The Oblong Woodsia. 



The fronds of this Fern rise from a tufted 

 root-stock. The stipes is short, but the frond 

 as a whole is larger than that of the Alpine 

 Woodsia, and may be as much as six inches in 

 length. The outline of the fronds is oblong, 

 tapering towards the base and at the apex. 

 Over the whole frond, both on the upper and 

 the lower side, is a covering of fine hairs. 

 Usually the hairiness of the Oblong Woodsia 



