EERNS OE GREAT BRITAIN. 93 



stories, and by so doing do not a little deceive young 

 students." The Spleenwort of Dioscorides was, however, 

 apparently the Ceterach. 



A species of Hard Fern (B. cartilagineum), which 

 grows abundantly in New South Wales, is much eaten 

 by the natives. Its thick tough underground stem is, 

 after roasting, placed on a layer of wood, and beaten so 

 as to break the woody fibre. In this state the natives 

 eat it without removing the charred substance. It is 

 described as resembhng in flavour a waxy potato, but 

 as more gelatinous in substance. 



13. Ptekis (Brake). 



1. P. aquiUna (Common Brake). — i^ro;2«fe three-parted; 

 branches twice pinnate; pinnules linear-lanceolate, the 

 lower ones often pinnatifid or cut. The Brake or Bracken 

 is the most common of all our ferns; and one well 

 known to every' one accustomed to the country. Though 

 less elegant and graceful than some of our smaller 

 species, yet it well deserves the epithet of feathery, 

 when it attains a large size, and bows gracefully before 

 the autumnal gale. Like many other ferns, it is not 

 luxuriant on chalky soils, but is abundant on those which 

 are stony or sandy ; sometimes half filling the copse by 

 its plentiful growth, often forming picturesque clumps 

 on the heath land, where 



" Heath-bell dark and bracken green" 



are among the most frequent plants. On the winter 

 hedge large masses of the dead fronds may often be 

 seen hanging about the boughs, and of one uniform 



