FILMY FERN. 57 



TUNBEIDGE HYMENOPHYLE, OR FILMY 

 FERN. 



H7MENOPHYLL UM TUNBEIDGENSE. 



[Smith, Hooker and Arnott, Bentham, Babington, 



Moore, and Newman.~\ 



(Fig. 38.) 



SYNONYM. 



TBICHOMANES TUNBRIDGENSE. Linnceus. 



THIS little fern has a creeping root with minute 

 twisted fibres. The fronds are not above two or 

 three inches long, pinnate, lanceolate in general out- 

 line, and of an olive-brown tint. The veins are so 

 strongly marked that they may be said to form the 

 fronds, the leafy part being a very delicate mem- 

 branous kind of wing on each side. The clusters of 

 capsules are formed round the axis of a vein which 

 runs beyond the margin of the frond : it is inclosed 

 in a kind of cup which forms the involucre. 



The tufts of this fern grow so closely together, and 

 are of such a brown tint of colour, that they may 

 almost be taken for a kind of moss, or for a withered 

 plant. The whole family are ' the smallest of our 

 native ferns, and although so delicate in form and 



