298 TUNBRIDGE FILMY FERN. 



The figure of this fern in ' English Botany ' (E. B. 162) is 

 sufficiently exact, and that in Hooker's ' Flora Londinensis ' 

 (t. 71), is still better. 



This plant is the Trichomanes tunbridgense of Lianeus (Sp. 

 PL 1561), Hudson (Fl. Ang. ii. 461), and many of our earlier 

 authors : it was sej)arated by Smith as a genus in the fifth vo- 

 lume of the ' Turin Transactions ' (Acta Taur. v. 418), and the 

 name has been adopted by nearly all subsequent botanists. 



A species of Hymenophyllum occurs under the name of H. 

 tunbridgense, in the Floras of Germany, France, Italy, and 

 Sweden. From the ' Flore Fran§aise ' we learn that in France 

 it grows amongst moss on the trunks of trees ; and a closely- 

 allied species, often indeed bearing the same name, is abundant 

 in the Atlantic islands, and occurs in Africa, at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, in Valdivia, Chili, the Organ Mountains in Brazil, 

 and other parts of South America, in the Mauritius, various 

 parts of Van Diemen's Land, and New Zealand. 



This little moss-like fern is generally found growing on the 

 surface of rocks and stones, in moist and shady situations : but 

 I also observed it near the West Hoathly rocks, growing abun- 

 dantly on the surface of the soil under the shade of the common 

 ling; and in Ireland, it has repeatedly been seen covering 

 the branches of decayed trees. Unfortunately, in my endea- 

 vours to draw up a summary of habitats, I can derive but little 

 assistance from prior records : the learned authors of the 

 ' Botanist's Guide ' do not distinguish between this and the 

 following species ; and the authors of many later records are 

 evidently unable to apply the names with precision. The 

 English and Welch habitats of H. tunbridgense have been sup- 

 plied by correspondents on whom I can confidently rely. 



In Scotland, this pretty little fern does not appear to be of common 

 occurrence : the following habitats have been kindly supplied me : — 



Argylesiiire. — Mr. Gourlie informs me he has found it at BuUwood 

 and Dunoon. 



Dumbartonshire. — Mr. Gourlie has met with it abundantly on the 

 banks of Loch Lomond. 



