450 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



slender, purple, longer than frond. Fronds delicate, three-branch pinnate ; 

 pinnae segmented. Son on margins of the segments. Found in mountainous 

 localities and wet woods in North. Local. 



3. Beech Fern (Polypodium phegopteris). Fronds 6 to 12 inches; pinnate 

 at base, more or less hairy on under side. Son small close to margins of the 

 lobes. Mountains, wet woods, and waterfalls in South, West, and North. 

 Local. 



4. Parsley Fern (Allosorus crispus). Fronds 6 inches, like parsley. The 

 fertile fronds have reflexed ends covering the indusium. Stem slender and 

 brittle. Local in North-west and North on stones and rocks for example, 

 round Snowdon. 



5. Common Prickly-shield Fern (Aspidium aculeatum}. Fronds tufted, 

 i to 2 feet, lanceolate, twice-pinnate, stout, rigid. Stalk shaggy, with brown 

 scales. Root large, woody. Veins alternately branched. Common in hedge- 

 rows. 



6. Broad Prickly-toothed or Crested Fern (Nephrodium dilatatum). Stem- 

 like root, often rising 6 to 12 inches above soil. Fronds pinnate ; frond-stalk 

 covered with long pointed scales. Common in woods and hedgerows. 



7. Male Buckler Fern (Nephrodium filix-mas). Fronds 2 to 3 feet, in 

 circular clumps, five to ten in number. Sori with kidney-shaped indusium. 

 Very common. A well-known remedy for tapeworm. 



8. Broad Prickly Buckler Fern (Nephrodium spinulosum). Closely allied 

 with preceding, but not so tall, and much broader. Fronds i to 2 feet; bipinnate ; 

 segments of the pinnae deeply toothed. Equally common. 



9. Marsh Buckler Fern (Nephrodium thelypteris). Fronds single, not 

 tufted ; bipinnate. Fertile fronds 2 to 3 feet, barren fronds shorter. Indusium 

 soon lost. Found in marshy districts. 



10. Black Spleenwort, or BLACK MAIDENHAIR (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum). 

 6 to 12 inches. Stalk long, purple or black. Fronds bipinnate. Sori at first 

 distinct near midrib, becoming massed as plant grows. Found on old walls, 

 rocks, and hedgebanks. Local. 



11. Lady Fern (Asplenium filix-femina). One of the most beautiful 

 varieties. Tufted. Fronds lanceolate, bipinnate, lobes sharply toothed. Very 

 fragile. Found in sheltered woods chiefly. Very common in Ireland. 



12. Lanceolate Spleenwort (Asplenium lanceolatum}. Tufted. Fronds 

 bipinnate, lanceolate, 3 to 6 inches. Sori two to four on each segment, uniting 

 when old. Very local, chiefly on sea coast. Abundant in Cornwall and Jersey. 



13. Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium marinum). Fronds 6 to 12 inches, pinnate, 

 tufted, narrow, lanceolate. Sori on midrib, linear, large. Common on ah* 

 coasts except East. 



14. Wall Rue (Asplenium Ruta-muraria). A little fern, densely tufted. 

 Fronds thick, dark green ; 2 to 3 inches. Pinnae often wedge-shaped. Found on 

 old walls and rocks. 



15. Common Wall Spleenwort, or MAIDENHAIR SPLEENWORT (Asplenium 



