118 PERNS OP GREAT BRITAIN. 



handsome plant acquires a drooping habit. Mr. New- 

 man, referring to it, says : "I noticed a beautiful 

 instance at Killarney, where it completely fringes the 

 river between the lakes, and certainly forms a most 

 prominent feature in that lovely but neglected portion of 

 that far-famed scenery. So altered is the usual character 

 of this fern, that its long fronds arch gracefully over, 

 and dip their masses of seed in the crystal water ; while 

 the saucy coots, from beneath the canopy it affords 

 them, gaze fearlessly on the visitors who are continually 

 passing by." This fern is not difficult of culture, and 

 growing in a large pot of earth kept in water, and placed 

 in the shade, it makes a lovely ornament among the 

 myrtles, and hydrangeas, and rhododendrons, which 

 so often grace the hall of a house. It also thrives well 

 on the margin of pieces of water, or on rock-work near 

 them. It is common to most European countries. The 

 Germans call it Traubenfarrn ; the Dutch, 'Drosvaren ; 

 the Italians and Spaniards, Osmunda ; and the French, 

 Osmonde. In Madeira, it was formerly a most luxuriant 

 and plentiful fern. 



The young fronds of the Osmunda are usually about 

 ten or twelve in number, but they are sometimes fewer. 

 Their large leaf-sprays are thin and crisp, and of a bright 

 sea-green colour, usually assuming a deeper green as the 

 plant grows older. The stalk, which is at first reddish 

 brown, afterwards becomes green, and contrasts well with 

 the rich rust-brown spikes of fructification. These shrub- 

 like fronds are, however, annual, and some of them are 

 barren. They are lanceolate and twice pinnate, the 

 pinnae being either lanceolate, or lanceolate and egg- 



