THE FERN PARADISE. 



2. 



THE ALPINE BLADDER FERN. 



Oystopteris regia. 



PLATE 4, FIG. 2. 



JHIS is an exceedingly rare species of the 

 British Ferns. Similar in some respects 

 to the Brittle Bladder Fern, it differs 

 from the latter chiefly in length, being ordinarily 

 smaller, seldom growing to a height of more than 

 ten inches ; but sometimes becoming a little 

 taller. It has a short brittle stem, somewhat 

 scaly at the part nearest the ground. In this 

 species the branches of the frond, although similar 

 to those of Fragilis, are placed more directly 

 opposite each other. The stipes is slightly 

 shorter than in Fragilis : the frond-branches 

 are also slightly shorter, corresponding with the 

 smaller size of the plant, and instead of being 

 ordinarily lance-shaped, the general form of the 

 branches may be called either bluntish lance-shaped, 

 or egg-shaped. In the same way the leaflets on 

 the branches are also somewhat egg-shaped; but 



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