288 



HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



is one of our most elegant and graceful species, we 

 have described it so that it cannot be mistaken. 

 The Limestone Polypody (Polypodium caUareum) 

 grows in the same places, its lower fronds being 

 nearly as broad across the diameter of the fern as 

 the latter is high, thus giving to the plant quite a 

 triangular outline. Out on the hills above grow the 

 Parsley Fern (Cryptogramme crispa, Fig. 217), so 

 named because its habit of carrying the spore-cases 



Fig. 217. 



Parsley Fern (Crt/ptogramme crispa). b, Portion enlarged. 



clustered together causes it to resemble the parsley 

 grown in our gardens. On some parts of the Cum- 

 berland and Lancashire hills we have seen this 

 pretty fern covering the rough ground for acres. 



Another common fern in Derbyshire is the Eue- 

 leaved Fern (Asplenium ruta-muraria), which the 

 student will always recognise by its resemblance to the 

 rue grown in our gardens. It is rarely more than two 

 or three inches in height. The walls of old churches 

 and ruins are places to look for this plant, and it 



