6 PTERIS AQUILINA. 



Cincinalis aquilina, Gleditsch. 



Eupteris aquilina, Newman. 



Pteris — Brake. Aquilina — Eagle. 



The Common Brake, or as it is frequently called Bracken, 

 is a common indigenous species. 



It extends throughout Europe; found in China, Sitka, Kamt- 

 schatka, Siberia, India, Malaya, Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, 

 Bourbon, Sierra Leone, Senegambia, Fernando Po, Algiers, 

 Teneriffe, Madeira, California, Guatemala, Mexico, Veraguas, 

 Sandwich Islands. 



Fronds usually bi-tripinnate, often triangular in form, being 

 more elongate if larger fronds. Pinnse ovate, opposite, frequently 

 distant; secondary pinnse lanceolate; pinnulets sessile, mostly 

 entire. 



Veins simple or forked. 



Sori marginal and linear. Indusium membranaceous. 



Phizoma creeping. 



Mr. Moore describes four varieties: — 



1. — Vera. With secondary pinnules deeply pinnatifid. 



2. — Inlegerrima. Margin entire. 



3. — Crispa. Undulate or waved. 



4:.—Multifida. Multifid. 



Length of frond from six inches to ten feet. 



The Braken is used for many purposes, but more especially 

 as a substitute for straw, as a litter for cattle, and for thatching. 

 It may be procured anywhere, yet will not bear transplanting 

 except in winter. 



The illustration is from a plant in the author's collection at 

 Highficld House. 



