FOUR CURIOUS FERNS 99 



usually more than half the entire measurement. 

 The leafy branch is pinnate, and its divisions are 

 curious crescent-shaped processes which may 

 be toothed round the edges. These are usually 

 rather crowded together on the stem. The 



Botrychitiin lunaria. The Moonwort. 



fertile portion of the frond is very upright, and 

 bears about the same number of branches to be 

 counted on the leafy portion. These branches 

 are again divided into sections which bear the 

 clusters of spore cases. These are of a reddish- 

 brown colour and burst open when the contents 

 are mature, in the same manner as that to be 



