ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF FERNS. 



IN the account of British ferns given in this little 

 work, they have been arranged alphabetically; but in 

 order that the student may have an idea of their 

 general structure, we present an analysis of the cha- 

 racters of the orders and genera into which they are 

 divided by botanists. It must always be remembered, 

 that the species of British ferns are only a small part 

 ot the great family of ferns which are scattered in 

 space over the surface of the earth, and in time in the 

 rocks of which the earth is composed. No arrange- 

 ment of fragmentary groups, such as the British ferns, 

 can give the student an idea of the grandeur, beauty, 

 and harmony of the whole. But the study of this 

 limited portion of the great family will, it is hoped, 

 kindle in him a desire to know more of this great 

 family, which, though deprived by their Creator of the 

 beauty and adornment of flowers, have nevertheless 

 attractions and graces of their own, and, with all other 

 created things, the charm of occupying a necessary 

 place in the great order of creation. 



ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF 

 BRITISH FERNS. 



POLYPODIACE^E. 



The fronds are rolled up in a circinate manner 

 while young, the spore-cases have an elastic ring, 

 which bursts by an irregular transverse cleft. 



