86 THE CLIFF BRAKES. 
its natural place of growth. It is a frail and delicate 
species, little fitted to battle with wind and weather. It 
therefore seeks the shelter of shady dripping ledges and 
spreads its thin veiny fronds in the dim light, covering 
the shelving crags with graceful drapery. 
The fertile fronds are taller than the sterile and more 
erect. Occasionally they may reach a length of nine 
inches although usually not more than half solong. The 
blade is lanceolate, and, in heavily fruited fronds, twice 
pinnate with linear pinnules. 
When less fruitful the frond is 
usually simply pinnate with ovate 
pinne cut into oval or lanceolate 
segments, the terminal one longer 
and narrower than the rest. The 
sori are close to the margin and 
covered with a broad and con- 
spicuous indusium usually extend- 
ing entirely around the pinnule. 
The sterile fronds are generally 
simply pinnate with pinnatifid 
pinne and broad, obtuse seg. 
ments which are entire or irregu- 
larly notched. The stipes are as 
TIP OF FERTILE FRoNp long or longer than the blades 
ENLARGED. and are straw-coloured. There 
seems to be a complete gradation from wholly sterile 
fronds to those most heavily fruited. 
Thisis one of our most delicate species and is able to 
live only in deep shade and moisture. It withers at the 
first sign of dryness, often disappearing by the first of 
August in situations subject to summer drouths. The 
greater part ofits range appears to be north of the United 
