FERNS OP GREAT BRITAIN. 



**fiDrm, which is often so elegant and delicate in outKne, 

 gives to the ferns their grand attraction. Sometimes 

 the frond is Hke a long narrow leaf, with waved edges, 

 as in the Haxt's-tongue ; but by far the greater number 

 of our native ferns have their fronds divided into nume- 

 rous branches and segments. 



The most simple form of division is the- pinnatifid. 

 In this the edge of the frond is cut into deep seg- 

 ments, nearly 

 but not quite 

 down to the 

 rachis, as in the 

 Scaly Spleen- 

 wort. When 

 the frond is 

 divided quite 

 down to the 

 rachis, leaving 

 small portions 

 of the rachis 

 between each 

 green leafy part, 

 it is called jom- 

 naie, each lit- 

 tle leaflet being 

 called a pinna. 

 This may be 

 seen in the Sea Spleenwort. When these pinnae are 

 again divided, in the same manner as in the Lady Pern, 

 the frond is said to be ttmce-pinnate, and the series of 

 little leaf-like divisions are ienaeA. 2)innules ; but when 



SCALY SPLEENWORT. 



