GROUP IV FERTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND SIMILAR; 

 SPORANGIA ON OR BENEATH A REFLEXED MARGIN 



In the spring or early summer its solitary spread* 

 ing frond, light-green and delicate in color, might 

 almost be confused with the Oak Fern. Later its 

 green takes on a dark, dull shade, and its general 



aspect becomes more 

 hardy than that of 

 any other fern. 



The Brake is be- 



lieved to be 



" fearn " of the early J? 



Saxons and to have given this pre- 

 fix to many English towns and vil- 

 lages, such as Fearnhow or Farn- 

 how, Farningham, etc. 



It is one of the few ferns men- 

 tioned by name in general litera- 

 ture. In the " Lady of the Lake " 

 it is alluded to in the song of the heir of Armandave 



" The heath this night must be my bed, 

 The Bracken curtain for my head." 

 106 



Brake 



