60 HISTORY Or BRITISH FERNS. 



there at the margin on the under surface. The veins will 

 be seen to be dichotornously forked, that is, separating into 

 two equal branches, beginning from the base upwards, the 

 forking being several times repeated, producing close pa- 

 rallel radiating venules which extend to the margin. The 

 sori are produced on the reflexed (or bent under) membra- 

 nous expansions of the margin of the fronds which form the 

 indusia, these indusia being traversed by veins which bear 

 the sori. There is only one native species, which possesses 

 these characteristics, and this is certainly one of the most 

 beautiful, as it is also one of the rarer of our indigenous 

 Ferns ; and being of small size and of evergreen habit, it is 

 one of the most desirable of all for culture in a Wardian case. 



The name of the genus comes from the Greek adiantos, 

 which signifies dry, or unmoistened ; and is applicable to 

 these plants, from their possessing in a remarkable degree 

 the property of repelling water. It is, in fact, impossible to 

 wet the surface of their pinnules, when the fronds are in a 

 fresh state and in good health, the water being cast off as 

 though from an oily surface. 



ADIANTUM CAPILLUS-VENEEIS, Linnteus. The Maiden- 

 hair Pern. (Plate XYI. fig. 1.) 



A small evergreen species, furnished with a very short 



