08 CISTOPTERIS. 



tally turned. Pinnules soft, thin, oval, 

 with a slight fulness at the base outside, 

 asunder, frequently incised and toothed. 

 Sori scattered, but towards the edge, nume- 

 rous, appearing on the undeveloped head, 

 and at length uniting. April. Deciduous. 

 Common in hedges, banks, and walls. 

 Very changeable in shape. Easy of culti- 

 vation, and takes most freely. Very orna- 

 mental. It assumes sometimes a larger 

 and more oblong frond, pinnae and pin- 

 nules further distant, the latter morr 

 deeply divided and sharper pointed, sori 

 less prominent, and is then called Angus- 

 tata ; or a smaller, pinnules blunter, 

 rounder, and less indented, sori less in- 

 clined to run together, and is then Den- 

 tata. The only drawback to this elegant 

 little thing is, that under treatment out of 

 doors it often becomes subject to a red 

 mildew. 



Distinct varieties are 



ALPINA. (Alpine Bladder Fern.) Usually 



from 2 to 6 inches, but occasionally higher. 

 Root tufted. Growing in masses. More 

 compound, rounder, and less pointed, in 

 the pinnules; pinna3 shorter, blunter, and 

 somewhat inclining to alternate; in both 

 broader and closer. Sori towards the 



