22 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



slightly toothed on theu* margins. The fertile frond is paniculate, and stands 

 about Sin, above the barren one. — Hooker^ Synopsis Filicum, p. 448. 



B. Yirginianum — vir-gin-i-a'-num (Virginian), Swartz. 



This handsome species, which, according to Eaton, is popularly known 

 in North America as the " Virginian Grape Fern," or as the " Rattlesnake 

 Fern," is found growing wild in rich woods from New Brunswick and 

 Canada to Wasliington Territory and Oregon, and southward to Colorado, 

 Texas, Alabama, and Florida ; it also occurs in Mexico, New Glranada, 

 Venezuela, and Brazil. In India it is found on the Neilgherries and the 

 Himalayas up to 6000ft. elevation ; and in Europe it is indigenous in 

 Bavaria, Prussia, and Russia, and is even foimd in the Canton des Grisons, 

 in Switzerland, where, Correvon says, it prefers the moist meadows, especially 

 those near the forests, but Avhere plenty of light is to be had. It is a very 

 distinct and well- characterised species, having a barren frond broader than 

 long, thus forming a triangle situated exactly at the middle of the stalk, 

 which also bears the fertile one. By its shape and by the way in which it 

 is divided, the barren frond much resembles that of the Mountain Bladder 

 Fern [Cystopteris 7no?itana), for it is from 4in. to 12in. each way, with lower 

 leaflets much the largest ; the pinnules (leafits), ovate-oblong in shape and 

 closely set, are divided to a broadly-winged stalk into finely-cut, linear-oblong 

 segments which are themselves very deeply cleft. The fertile frond, which 

 is small, narrow, elongated, and finely divided, is placed from 4in. to Sin. 

 above the barren one, and borne on a peduncle (stalk) equalling or overtopping 

 the barren one when mature ; it is formed into a loose, oblong panicle lin. 

 to 4in. long, and generally not more than bipinnate (twice divided to the 

 midrib). — Hooker, Species Filicum, p. 448. Eaton, Ferns of North America, 

 i., t. 33. Beclclome, Ferns of Southern India, t. 67. 



B. Y. lanuginosum — la-nu-gin-o'-sum (downy), Wallich. 



A variety with slightly hairy surfaces, the fertile peduncle (stalk) rising 

 from the centre of the barren fi-ond, Avhich the panicle of fructification scarcely 

 overtops, — Hooker, Synopsis Filicimi, p. 448. 



