128 



MARSH FERN. 



and very fragile ; the texture thin and almost membranaceous ; 

 the colour pale green. The fertile frond differs in being much 

 more taU and robust, and in having the margins of the pinnules 

 convolute, and the pinnules themselves are thus rendered nar- 

 rower, and apparently more distant. The 

 lateral veins of the pinnules are alter- 

 nate ; they are forked almost immedi- 

 ately on leaving the midvein, and each 

 branch proceeds to the margin of the pin- 

 nule (as shown at page 123), bearing a 

 nearly circular cluster of capsules about 

 midway between the midvein and mar- 

 gin : at the back of each cluster, in an 

 early stage of the frond, may be seen a 

 small, flat, whitish, reniform involucre, 

 as represented in the figure in the mar- 

 gin ; this soon withers, is pushed aside 

 by the swelling capsules, and is lost : the clusters of capsules 

 become confluent, and are always concealed by the semi- 

 bleached semi-membranous margin of the pinnule. 



€ultmt 



This fern grows freely, provided the soil be sufficiently peaty 

 and the supply of moisture abundant : if this can be done in no 

 other way, it may always be accomplished by digging out the 

 ordinary soil, and making a cemented bottom upon which to 

 spread the peat : saturate this thoroughly with water ; too much 

 cannot be given, as the rhizomes will thrive equally well when 

 constantly submerged. For gi-eenhouse cultivation, use the 

 largest obtainable seed-pan without any aperture for the escape 

 of water : sift peat-earth through a coarse sieve, and mix it with 

 charcoal broken small, in the proportion of seven parts peat to 

 one of charcoal: arrange the rhizomes among this compost and 

 saturate with water : no protection against sun is required. 



