rERV- 299 



scales and t'mnished with many long, black, tough fibres. The 

 leaves or fronds, which are coiled up in vernation, spring imme- 

 diately from the rhizoma; they are large, erect, often three feet 

 in length, growing in a circle, doubly winged, green, smooth, 

 with a short foot-stalk, clothed with reddish brown, nearly 

 transparent, chaffy scales ; the pinnules are alternate, lanceolate, 

 acute ; the leaflets numerous, rather confluent at tlie base, linear- 

 oblong, obtuse, and finely serrated. The fructification is scattered 

 over the back of the leaves, in masses, called sori, which are 

 placed in two rows near the midrib of each leaflet, and are 

 covered by a membranous involucre (jndusiuni), which is orbi- 

 cular, somewhat reniform, and fixed by the sinus. Each capsule 

 (thecci) is globose, one-celled, attached by a short pedicel and girt 

 with an articulated elastic ring (annulus), wliich flies back when 

 the capsule is ripe, and discharges the sporules contained in it. 

 Plate 18, fig. 2, (a) the back of a leaflet, shewing the sori; (b) a 

 portion of the leaflet magnified, exhibiting the involucre, with 

 numerous thecae; (c) a capsule or theea detached, magnified; 

 (d) the same opening to eject the sporules. 



This beautiful Fern is very common in Britain, and is fre- 

 quent throughout Europe, in vvoods and on shady banks ; 

 producing its fructification for tlie most part from June till 

 August. 



The generic name, Aspidium, is formed from ccttti;, a shield, 

 which the indusia of some of its species resemble. This 

 species is supposed to be the irrizi^ of Dioscorides, so called 

 from Trr^pu^, a rving, in allusion to the doubly pinnate leaves. 



Several superstitious notions respecting Ferns have prevailed 

 among tl>e common people at different periods; such as the 

 following: — Their smell drives away serpents. — If a pregnant 

 •woman step over ferns she will miscarry. — The seed scattered 

 in a ring is a defence against enchantments, &c. 



The sporules being excessively minute, (a single frond has 

 been computed to produce upwards of a million,) the opinion 

 has been long prevalent that Ferns must be destitute of seeds ; 

 hencein Shakspeare, " we have the receipt of fern seed, we walk 

 invisible." * 



The other species of Fern best known in this country is the 

 common female Fern or Brakes, (Pteris aquUina,) generically 

 * Jljpjiry n'., An. II. Seen. 1 



Y 2 



