FERNS OF GEEAT BRITAIN. 



uny FEjiK. 



the pinnae are not cut 

 doTVTi quite to the rib, 

 and are only lobed, tliey 

 are termed pinnatijid, as 

 in the Mountain Pern. 

 Several foreign Ferns are 

 thrice -pinnate ; but we 

 have no British Ferns 

 with fronds of this na- 

 ture, except some very 

 luxuriant states of the 

 Bracken, and one or two 

 other species. Fronds 

 which are thrice-pinnate 

 are called decompound. 



The peculiar 

 scroU - like form 

 which the fronds of 

 Ferns exhibit while 

 yet unfolded, must 

 have been observed 

 by all who notice 

 our hedgebanks du- 

 ring spring ; for 

 they jtnay often be 

 seen there with the 

 blue-bells, and ane- 

 mones, and prim- 

 rose clumps. In 

 Compound Ferns, 

 like the Common 



