44 FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



moisture the Poh'pody must needs rely to a 

 considerable extent upon that which it can 

 secure from the atmosphere. In some ways, 

 tlaerefore, it strongly resembles the curious 

 epiphytes of the tropical forests. 



It may be the good fortune of the traveller 

 in rocky districts to come across one or other 

 of the dainty species of filmy fern. Wherever 

 there are rocks, which from some cause or 

 another are maintained in a moist condition at 

 all times, there one may hopefully look for 

 the Tunbridge Filmy Fern {Hymenophylhini 

 tiinbridgense) or the One-Sided Filmy Fern 

 {H. unilaterale). These ferns are very similar 

 in appearance, the chief distinguishing feature 

 being that in the latter plant the fronds are 

 much narrower than is the case in the first 

 named. One is at once struck by the semi- 

 transparent nature of the little fronds, which 

 rise from wiry rootlets, often so closely inter- 

 woven as to form a great mat, which may well 

 be several yards square. The spore cases are 

 borne in cup-shaped scales on the backs of the 

 frond, and should be examined with the aid of 

 a magnifying glass. 



All those who really love ferns will resist 



