164 FILICES. 



on the upper side of the anterior yenules. Indusium said to be 

 obsolete, but traceable in an early stage of the development of 

 the frond. The whole fructification is very much obscured by the 

 dense and numerous scales covering the under surface. Formerly 

 very plentiful about the rocks of Torquay, but it has of late years 

 been mercilessly rooted up to satisfy the cravings of fern-culti- 

 vators. Kocks about Babbicombe Down. Churchyard walls at 

 Chudleigh and Ilsington, Fl. D. P. iv.-x. 



BKECHNUIK. HAED-FEEN. 



" Capsules in a continuous line parallel to the midrib, upon a 

 longitudinal anastomosing part of the transverse veins, covered 

 by a continuous scarious indusium." Bab. Man., p. 418. 



Blechxmm Spicant (common Hard-Fern.) In damp, stony, 

 and heathy places. "Barren fronds pectinate-pinnatifid with 

 broadly linear rather obtuse pinnae ; fertile frond pinnate, with 

 linear acute pinnae" (Bab. Man., p. 427). (Moore, Nat. Print. 

 Ferns, t. 43 C. B. boreale, Sin. E. B. t. 1159 ; Sowerby, Ferns, 

 t. 37 j Hook, and Arn. Br. Fl. ; Bab. Man. Lomaria Spicant, 

 Newman.) Caudex stout, either upright or decumbent, having 

 stoutish branched roots, and being covered with tawny-brown 

 narrow-lanceolate scales. Stipes of barren fronds short, those 

 of the fertile fronds much longer, dark purplish-brown. Barren 

 fronds from 6 to 18 inches long, dark-green, usually spreading, 

 pinnatifid, with the linear-oblong lobes arranged on each side 

 the rachis like the teeth of a comb, the lobes at the apex of the 

 frond confluent. Fertile fronds taller, often exceeding 2 feet in 

 height, pinnate below, and with much narrower lobes. Yena- 

 tion of the barren fronds a stout midvein, which sends off veins 

 which are once or twice forked, the venules ending near the 

 margin in a club-shaped head ; in the fertile fronds the lateral 

 veins are alternate, and proceed upward about halfway to the 

 margin, then they make an abrupt turn and run parallel with 

 the midvein, each anastomosing with the one above it, and form- 

 ing apparently a longitudinal vein on each side the midvein. 

 Sori linear, one on each side of the midrib, extending the entire 

 length of the pinnse, covered by a continued membranous indu- 

 sium, sori becoming ultimately confluent. Forde bog. Bovey 

 Heath. Ivybridge. Moor at Chagford. P. VI. vii. 



PTSRIS. BEAKES OE BEACKEN. 

 ' Sori indusiate, marginal, linear, continuous or interrupted j 



