186 



HARD FERN. JBLECHNUM. 

 COMMON HARD FERN. Blechnum boreale. 



Plate 14, fig. 20. 



To be seen often on the damp part of sandy commons and 

 in ditches, with pinnatifid lance- shaped fronds of two sorts ; 

 those which are without seed are shorter than the others and 

 their divisions wider. The fertile fronds have their divisions 

 very narrow, and wholly covered with seeds on the under side ; 

 they are also of a dark color. It grows about a foot high. 



Note. The Ferns are to he dried the same as other plants. In 

 gathering them be careful to take the whole frond, from the root 

 upwards, as many of them are scaly at the lower part of the stem, 

 and no where else, and this is of consequence to he observed. If 

 the fronds should shrivel up before they are put between the papers 

 to dry, they may be placed under water for an hour without injury ; 

 this will expand them again. 



