ATHYRIUM FILIX-FIKMINA. 



Athyruan jilix-fcemina is a common species thronghout Great 

 Britain, growing most luxuriantly in damp, shady situations. 

 In mountainous exposed situations it becomes dwarf and more 



rigid. 



Scott remarked this when he wrote: — 



"Where the copse-wood is the greenest, 

 "Where the fountain is the shcenost, 

 Where the morning dew hes longest, 

 There the Lady Fern grows strongest." 



The Lady Fern is to be found at every elevation up to 

 three thousand feet. The localities are too numerous to mention. 



Abroad it is a native of Lapland, Russia, Holland, France, 

 Scandinavia, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Hungary, 

 Spain, Portugal, Italy, Transylvania, Greece, Crete, Caucasus 

 and Ural Mountains, Russian Asia, Siberia, India, Mediterranean 

 Islands, Algeria, Islands of Canary, Madeira, and TenerifFe, 

 throughout North America, Canada, British Columbia, United 

 States, Vera Cruz, Caraccas, Bolivia, and Cuba. 



This species is readily cultivated both in the out-door Fernery 

 and in pots, and is one of the finest of Ferns, in fact the 

 Queen of Ferns, some of its varieties being most beautiful. 

 There are many striking varieties, all of which are graceful, 

 and worthy a place in every Fernery, these are: — 



-^^^i^ 





f^^^mMmmm 





.5. 



Fig. 277.— Portion of Frond. 



OxYDENS, Moore. (Fig. Til.) — A beautiful variety, remark- 

 ably frondose, or leafy, and having a very spreading habit. 

 It is hardlv of the robust form. Fronds twelve to eighteen 

 inches long, narrow lanceolate, profusely fertile. Pinnte short- 

 ened, and towards the apex (owing to a crispy contraction of 



