176 HAEDY FEENS. 



dwarf Fern, a native of Britain, on old walls and hedgerows. 

 Fronds triangular-formed and variously-divided ; when the 

 fronds are in fructification the spore-masses (nearly black) 

 cover the under sides of the pinnae. Very hardy, but requires 

 a dry situation, rather shaded. Increased readily by offsets 

 that form themselves round the tufted crowns. There are 

 several forms of this species varying in the forms of the 

 pinnae, and one which is irregularly blotched with white, and 

 is thence called variegatum. 



A. ALTEENIFOLIUM (Alternate-leaved). An elegant little 

 Fern found on the Scottish mountains, and also in Germany, 

 France, Sweden, and Switzerland. Fronds pinnated alter- 

 nately, growing only 3 or 4 inches high, in a compact patch ; 

 pinnae lance -shaped. Increased by division. Difficult to 

 manage out of doors. 



A. ANGUSTIFOLIUM (Narrow-fronded). This is a very 

 distinct North -American Spleenwort. Quite hardy. The 

 fronds are about 18 inches high, light green, standing some- 

 what erect, once-divided, with lanceolate pinnae. 



A. FILIX-FCEMINA (Female -Fern). So named because of 

 its graceful appearance. There is no Fern that surpasses this 

 in its elegant feathery habit. Native of Britain, growing on 

 hedgebanks in shady lanes. It is also found in every quarter 

 of the globe. Fronds 2 feet high, bipinnate, broad lance- 

 shaped, and of a beautiful light green; pinnae narrow, and 

 thickly placed on the stem, the lowest one the largest in 

 size. Stems scaly. Spore-masses kidney-shaped. Increased 

 slowly by division. There are numerous permanent varieties 

 of this beautiful Fern. One is particularly handsome, and 

 has been named multifidum (Many-times-cut) that is, the 

 pinnae at the end of the fronds are finely divided or tasselled. 

 This was discovered in Ireland by Mr. D. Moore, of the 

 Glasnevin Gardens. Another variety is sometimes named 

 crispum, and also Smithii. It was also found in Ireland 

 by Mr. Andrew Smith, gardener at the Holme, in Begent's 



