THE ROYAL FERN 95 



plant being in a very damp situation, the fronds 

 have been as much as twelve feet in height. 

 Average specimens would range from three to 

 six feet. The fronds are twice pinnate, the 

 pinnules being oblong with uncut edges. Some 

 of the fronds are barren and never bear any sori. 



In the case of the fertile fronds only the 

 upper portion produces the clusters of spore 

 cases. Here the leafy portion of the pinnules is 

 very much contracted, so that little or no green 

 is visible. The sori are quite naked, no indusia 

 being present at any time. A notable feature 

 of the sporangia is that they split up into two 

 valves when about to burst, and are not pro- 

 vided with the elastic ring (annulus) which 

 assists in the rupture of the capsules in the case 

 of most ferns. That the pinnules which bear 

 the sori are exactly comparable to the leafy 

 portion is often very plain. Here and there on 

 a plant it is possible to find fertile examples 

 which have developed partly in a barren, and 

 partly in a fertile manner. 



The Royal Fern is essentially a plant of the 

 marshland. It never grows happily in dry or 

 elevated situations. It is perhaps to be found 

 at its best growing by the side of some river or 

 stream. The Royal Fern has been found in 

 many parts of the United Kingdom, though the 

 plant suffers much from the depredations of 

 trippers. Most fern-lovers know of places 

 where this handsome species grows in abundance, 

 but they wisely keep such knowledge to them- 

 selves. In the garden the Royal Fern grows 

 well, but it must not suffer from lack of water, 

 or it will prove but a poor subject. The fronds 

 of the Royal Fern die down at the coming of 

 the frost, and the young growth does not put in 

 an appearance until the late spring. 



