



















FERNS. . 523 
Fern (P. phegopteris) are identical with ours. The Parsley 
_ Fern (Allosorus crispus) is a beautiful and “rather a local 
Species, being found chiefly in mountainous localities in the 
north of England and Wales. Even there, a stranger may 
_ wander day after day and not meet with a plant for several 
= days. The Parsley Fern is a very desirable plant for a War- 
= dian case, or pot culture. It requires a little care in the cul- 
tivation, or it is apt to damp off from too much moisture 
at the roots. The fronds appear in May, and disappear 
_ With the early frosts of autumn.” (pp. 52, 53.) We do not 
have this pretty fern, but it is represented in our Allosorus 
_ crostichoides, or Rock-brake of Lake Superior, and of the 
northern and western parts of North America., The Jersey 
: Fern (Gymnogramma leptophylla), found only in the island 
_ of Jersey as British, “is a little unpretending plant, of not 
More than two or three inches in height, and is not well 
_ Suited to the Wardian case, growing most freely in the stove- 
(or hot) house. A native of Southern and’ Middle Europe, 
_ the isles of the Mediterranean and Northern Africa, it has 
: also been found in Mexico.” We are too far north for the 
2 Gymnogrammas, known as the Golden and Silver Ferns, and 
Much cultivated for the beauty which a white or yellow 
. mealiness on the back of the fronds gives them. “The 
n Ferns, or as they are sometimes called, Buckler Ferns, 
Mmelude some of the commonest and best known of British 
Species. Their generally accepted botanical name is Las- 
Most of the species are large and easily cultivated in 
Pots or in the open air.” Three of these have once divided 
S, four others have twice divided fronds, and one be- 
Sides has thrice divided fronds. Of these the spiny Boss 
h is represented in our Shield Fern (Aspidium spinu- 
lsum) and its varieties, and the genus in other species is 
ute distinct. The British Shield Ferns, in the Holly Fern 
R Prickly Fern, have representatives with us, and there is 
na besides which we do not possess, and also another, finer 
Nall, the Aspidium acrostichoides, common and beautiful, 

