DRYOPTERIS FILIX-MAS. 185 



The genus Dryopteris was established by Schott in his 

 'Filices' (vol. and page unnumbered), and founded on D. Filix- 

 mas : it differs from Lophodium in the remarkably perfect and 

 reniform involucre, which entirely incloses the capsules as in a 

 bladder. I have already stated (page 131) why such ferns as 

 this cannot properly be transferred to Bory's genus Lastrea. 



Concerning trivial names, I shall have more to say presently. 



The male fern is found in every country of Europe and 

 Northern Asia, and has been collected in Africa. Beck gives 

 it as a native of North America, but it does not occur in either 

 of the collections I have received from the United States, 

 through the kindness of Messrs. Boott, Lea, and Tuckerman. 



This is a most abundant species, and one which seems to 

 delight in wooded and cultivated districts : although scattered 

 over every part of the kingdom, it is ever most abundant in 

 rich soil and shady situations : it lives to a great age, and the 

 fronds of each succeeding year appear to increase in size. 



The radicles are extremely strong and tough ; they are of a 

 dark brown colour, and penetrate very deeply into the earth : 

 the caudex is tufted ; if in a favourable situation, it elongates 

 slightly every year, so that in very old plants it makes a de- 

 cided appearance above ground, and its crown appears to be 

 seated on a short trunk ; more often, however, it assumes a 

 pendant position, as represented at page 183, the crown of the 

 caudex curving at the extremity, and the fronds growing in a 

 nearly erect position. The fronds make their appearance in 

 May ; at first they are perfectly circinate, but after a few days 

 the apex of each is liberated, and hangs down, the frond at this 

 period possessing the bend which characterises a shepherd's 

 crook, as represented at page 183. In this state it is very ten- 

 der, and is generally cut down by the late frosts of spring : the 

 loss is, however, quickly supplied ; a second series of fronds 



2b 



