THE FEEN PAEAD1SK. 



those at first starting from the root being shorter, 

 and less prolific than those which succeed. They 

 are somewhat irregularly divided into branches; 

 the branches bearing fan -shaped leaflets, which 

 have their edges notched. On the backs of these 

 lobes or leaflets are the spore- cases. When these 

 are shed, in the late summer or autumn, the 

 Gymnogram dies. The spores then germinate, 

 and the plants produced, attaining maturity in the 

 following summer, again die, after producing in 

 their turn the spores for the succeeding season. 



Jersey is the only habitat of the Annual 

 Maidenhair. There it grows in moist hedge- 

 banks. But, cui^iously enough, it has an anti- 

 pathy to the shade of trees, although it likes, 

 when growing in the open banks of the hedges, the 

 shelter of dwarf vegetation; sometimes choosing 

 to keep company with the moss which is to be 

 found in such situations. In cultivation it should 

 be grown in the greenhouse, or, if in the dwelling- 

 house, under glass ; and the soil adapted for it is 

 light sandy loam and leaf-mould. 



264 



