FILICES. 165 



the receptacles linear transverse, uniting the apices of the veins. 

 Indusium of the same form, membranaceous. Veins simple or 

 forked from a central costa ; venules free. " Moore, Handbook, 

 p. 223. 



P. aquilina (common Brakes or Bracken.) On heaths and 

 downs, in woods and shady places, frequent. " Fronds tripartite, 

 branches bipinnate, pinnules linear-lanceolate, the lower ones 

 usually pinnatifid; segments oblong-obtuse " (Bab. Man., p. 427). 

 (E. B. t. 1679. Moore, Nat. Print. Ferns, t. 44. Sowerby, 

 Ferns, t. 38.) * c Fronds annual, 1 to 5 feet high, very much di- 

 vided, with spreading branches. Capsules attached to the mar- 

 ginal vein, lying upon a fine membrane, and covered by the 

 membranous continuation of the epidermis. Inferior pinnules 

 pinnatifid, or sinuate, or entire" (Bab. Man., p. 427). Yery 

 abundantly distributed everywhere. P. vn. 



ADZANTUM. MAIDENHAIR-FERN. 



" Capsules marginal, oblong or roundish, covered by distinct 

 reflexed portions of the margin of the frond." Bab. Man., p. 

 418. 



A. Capillus-Veneris (common Maidenhair.) In crevices of 

 damp rocks, and in moist caves, more especially near the sea. 

 " Frond irregular ; branches and roundish wedge-shaped, lobed, 

 thin pinnules alternate ; lobes of the fertile pinnules terminated 

 by a transversely linear-oblong reflexed lobe covering several 

 roundish clusters: sterile lobes serrate." (Bab. Man., p. 428). 

 (E. B. t. 1564. Moore, Nat. Print. Ferns, t. 45 ; Sowerby, 

 Ferns, t. 40 ; Moore, Handbook, p. 230.) " Fronds bi-tripin- 

 nate; pinnules alternate, glabrous, membranaceous, obliquely 

 and broadly wedge-shaped, or roundish, with a truncate base, 

 attached by capillary stalks, the superior margin lobed, the sterile 

 lobes dentate, the fertile, obtuse or truncate ; sori tranversely 

 oblong, often occupying the whole width of the lobes ; stipes 

 and rachis ebony-black, smooth, glossy" (Moore, Handbook, p. 

 229) . For a detailed description of this most delicate and lovely 

 Fern, see Moore's Handbook. In the crevices of some wet 

 rocks at Mudstone Bay, near Brixham. Caves at Brixham. P. 

 v.-ix. 



HYMENOPHYLLUItt. FILMY-FERN. 



" Capsules on a narrow subclavate receptacle, within a two- 

 valved involucre of the same texture with the frond." Bab. 

 Man. p. 418. 



