HYMENOPHYLL UM. 



331 



it on Buzzardrough Cragg, near Wrenose, Westmoreland, among tlie moss. 

 Dr. Ricliardson met with it upon moist rocks in Wales, and near Settle, in 

 Yorkshire. It was found also plentifully by Mr. Rand, in company with 

 Mr. Sherrard, among the pebbles of Cockbush, six or seven miles from 

 Chichester, on the coast of Sussex." Although very scarce at Tunbridge Wells 

 now, it was formerly plentiful there, as well as in Devonshire, at Westman's 

 Wood, Becky Falls, Durnsford Bridge, and other places ; then in Yorkshire, 

 although not very frequently, it used to occur at Grreenlield, near Saddleworth, 

 and near Hahfax, It is to the present day found in abundance in Ireland, 

 near the upper Lake of Killarney, and in the County of Wicklow, at Powers- 

 court Waterfall, Glencree, &c. ; in Wales, near Cader Idris and Dolgelly ; 

 while in Scotland it occurs frequently, especially in the vicinity of Oban. 



But it is not only in the 

 British Isles that H. tunhridgense is 

 indigenous, for it is of a very cos- 

 mopolitan habit, being often im- 

 ported from Madeira and the Azores, 

 where it frequently covers the short 

 trunks of Dicksonia [Balantium) 

 culcita. It is reported from the 

 Mauritius, Jamaica, Venezuela, 

 Guatemala, and the Peruvian Andes ; 

 it has also been found in Ceylon, 

 on the Himalayas, and Beddome 

 states, " I have also detected this 



Fig. 84. Hymenophyllum tunhridgense 

 species on the mountains close to (nat. size). 



Chokampatly (Tinnevelly) at an 



elevation of 5000ft., and lately it has been discovered in great quantities in 

 Japan." In its natural habitats, the Tunbridge Wells Filmy Fern grows 

 from the sea-level to the height of 1200ft., and dehghts in a warm, damp, 

 sheltered situation ; although it thrives in various positions, it prefers one 

 approaching the perpendicular, and is often found gTOwing on trees. 



H. tunhridgense is a compact, elegant little plant (Fig. 84), with tiny, 

 thread-like rhizomes (prostrate stems) of a very wiry nature, producing 

 little fronds, oblong-spear-shaped, lin. to Sin. long, Jin. to lin. broad, and 



