THE FERN PARADISE. 



spot where the substance of the bog was more than 

 usually liquid. Here we found Thelypteris growing 

 in great abundance, the creeping rhizomas im- 

 mersed in the black bog-water, above which the 

 delicate light-green fronds were beautifully waving. 

 The scene at this spot was singularly wild and 

 beautiful. Above us, the leafy canopy of the wood ; 

 beneath, the dark bog, its surface exquisitely 

 diversified by the delightful fronds of Thelypteris ; 

 around on mossy clumps, great masses of sedge- 

 grass, charmingly green in colour, and pictu- 

 resquely dotted about. From out the mossy 

 mounds peeped pretty specimens of Blechnum 

 spicant ; and, scattered here and there, were some 

 plants of the rarer Lastrea spinulosa. 



The Marsh Buckler Fern has a thin, but exten- 

 sively creeping rhizoma, from all parts of which 

 spring the fronds. The rhizomas rejoice in the 

 almost liquid peaty soil of the bog, the soft pulpy 

 nature of which encourages the travelling propen- 

 sities of the roots. Few Ferns like to be sodden 

 in this manner at their roots like Thelypteris. In 

 cultivation the nearest approach to the natural 

 conditions which have been described must be 



360 



