CHAPTER XII. 



THE FILMY FERNS. 

 PLATE 8. 



)HE Filmy Ferns form a sort of connect- 

 ing link between Ferns and mosses. 

 They are the tiniest of all the British 

 Ferns, forming little tufts sometimes 

 only one inch in length ; but sometimes growing 

 to a length of six inches. Their semi-pellucid and 

 filmy nature is sufficiently expressed in the common 

 name given to them. The British group of these 

 pretty little Ferns is a tiny one, including only two 

 species, namely; 1. The Tunbridge Filmy Fern 

 (Hymenophyllum tunbridgense), and 2. The One- 

 sided Filmy Fern (Hymenophyllum unilaterale). 



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