BRITTLE FERN. 



upwards, then forwards, and almost covering the circular mass 

 of young capsules like a hood, its anterior margin split into 

 unequal and often capillary segments, like that of Woodsia. 



Species. — Fragilis. Caudex elongated horizontally but 

 very slowly, its elongation due solely to the development and 

 decay of fronds, its growing extremity erect, crowned with un- 

 developed fronds : stipes shorter than the frond : frond erect, 

 lanceolate, pinnate : pinnse ascending, distinct, suboi3posite, 

 pinnate : involucre generally present : seeds echinate : colour 

 dull green. 



Sponptts, i'lpus, &L 



Polypodium fragile, Linn. Sp. PI. 1553; Light/. Fl. Scot. 677 ; 



mids. Fl. Ang. 459 ; With. Arr. 779. 

 Polipodium fragile. Bolt. Fil. Brit. 50, t. 27 & 4 6. 

 Polypodium rhseticum, Huds. Fl. Ang. 458; With. Arr. 780 ; 



Bolt. Fil. Brit, part ii. 80, t. 45, but certainly not oi Linn. 



Sp. PI. 1552, as cited by early English authors. 

 Polypodium polymorphum, Villars, Dauph. iii. 847. 

 Polypodium dentatum, Dicks. Crypt, fasc. iii. 1, t. 7, f. 1, Id. 



H. Sice. fasc. 16 ; With. Arr. 776. 

 Polj^odium trifidum, With. Arr. 779. 

 Cyathea fragihs. Roth, Fl. Germ. iii. 94. 

 Cystea fragilis, Sm.E. F. iv. 298, E. B. 1587. 

 Cystea dentata, Sm. E. F. iv. 300, E. B. 1588. 

 Cystea angustata, Sm. E. F. iv. 301. 

 Cystea regia, Sm. E. F. iv. 302, ad partem, i. e., excluding 



the plant found on the garden-wall at Low Layton, which 



has not been gathered wild in Britain. 

 Cistopteris fragilis, Mack. Fl. Hib. 341. 

 Cystopteris fragilis, Newm. N. A. 15, F. 18, 149; Hook, and 



Am. 572; Bah. 413. 

 Cysto]3teris dentata, Bab. 412, and Moore, 71, excluding 



Dickieanum, Sim. 

 There are many very beautiful and characteristic figures of 

 this fern : those in Bolton's 'Filices,' under the names of Poly- 

 podium rhseticum and P. fragile (tab. 44 — 46), yield to none in 

 excellence. 



