38 PJERNS OP GREAT BEITAIN. 



indusium which is attached to the frond at its notched 

 part. The Marsh Fern is not one of the largest of the 

 Lastreas, for its barren frond rarely attains more than 

 a foot in height ; and the fertile frond is but an inch or 

 two higher, although under cultivation it is sometimes 

 more than twice as high as when wild. This fern 

 delights in moist boggy lands, occasionally growing in 

 great abundance among the Heather, and Sundews, and 

 Asphodels, and other bog plants ; but, like some of its 

 floral companions, it is somewhat local, and many a 

 boggy heath of England is destitute of its fronds, while 

 both in Scotland and Ireland it is a less common plant 

 than in England. In Wales it occurs in numerous 

 localities. It is a native of every country in Europe, 

 and is believed to grow in Africa, and both in North 

 and South America. It was at one time thought to be 

 a frequent fern in Scotland, the Heath Lastrea having 

 been mistaken for it. Dr. George Johnston, comment- 

 ing, about twenty years since, on this species, says that 

 it had only lately been discovered to be a Northumbrian 

 plant ; and adds that it was not a little curious that this 

 fern, which was thought to be so abundant in Scotland, 

 should not be found at aU in Berwickshire, and is so 

 rare in the north of England as to have escaped the 

 notice of the many acute naturalists who have botanised 

 there, until the late date of 1832-3, when Mr. Embleton 

 drew it from its lurking-place in Learmouth bogs, on 

 the very verge of the kingdom. It has since been 

 found at several spots near the lakes of Cumberland, at 

 Hamersham bog in Westmoreland, at Potterie Carr, 

 Askham bog, Heslington fields, Buttercrambe near York, 



