186 HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 



plants became better understood, they were very properly 

 separated, and they now, in conjunction with some few 

 foreign kinds, form a distinct family circle. The name 

 JVoodsia was given in compliment to the clever veteran 

 English botanist, Joseph Woods, Esq., author of a very 

 useful ' Tourist's Flora.' 



Woodsia ilvensis, B. Brown. 



The Oblong Woodsia. (Plate III. fig. 2.) 



A deciduous species, dying down to the ground annually 

 in winter, and reviving with the returning spring. Its very 

 short stems form tufts, which, if thriving and not disturbed, 

 and situated under favourable circumstances, grow into 

 masses, large comparatively with its diminutive stature. 

 The fronds average about four inches in height, and are less 

 frequently found larger than smaller than this. Their form 

 is lanceolate, more or less broad ; and they arc pinnate, 

 the pinnae usually set on nearly or quite opposite in pairs, 

 and having an obtusely oblong outline, with a deeply-lubed 

 or piunatifid margin. They are of a thick dull-looking 

 texture, and are more or less clothed on both surfaces, but 

 especially on the veins beneath, with minute bristle-like 

 scales, and shining jointed hairs, among which the sori 



