MAIDENHAIR FERNS. 



95 



that grew on a certain spot, and was collected by the vil- 

 lagers for decorative purposes. It was not a likely locality 

 at all for the Maidenhair Tern, and we became anxious to 

 discover what it could be which in the local Flora usurped 

 the name. Suffice it to say, that at length the Quaking 

 Grass {Brizd) was indicated as the Maidenhair. There 

 is certainly some reason in applying to one of the pret- 

 tiest of grasses the name of one of the loveliest of ferns. 

 Making poetical allowances, there is also some resem- 

 blance between the two. 



The name Adiantum (dry) is of Greek origin, and the 

 group which bears it is distinguished by having the tufts 

 of spore-cases borne on the under surface of the fronds, 

 near the edge, with the lobes or projections of the leaflets 

 bent back, so as to form a covering to the clusters of 

 spore-cases. These clusters do not form continuous lines 

 round the edges of the fronds, nor is the whole margin 

 bent back, as in the Brackens. 



There are many species of Maidenhair, or Adiantum, 

 scattered over the world, but only one species, and that 

 not commonly, is found in the British Isles. This species 

 has a wide range, being found in the tropical and tem- 

 perate regions of both hemispheres. 



MAIDENHAIE FEEN.^ 



The fronds of this fern are usually 8 or 10 inches in 

 length, sometimes more, exceedingly graceful, and very 

 much subdivided. They consist for half their length of a 

 blackish stalk, which then divides into numerous branches, 

 which subdivide until at last they are only like a horse- 

 hair, black and shining, bearing at their nodding and vi- 

 brating extremities the green leaflets. These leaflets are 

 fan-shaped, cut into lobes at their outer and rounded edge. 

 The lobes of the leaflets are bent back to serve as a cover- 

 ing to the clusters of spore-cases, which are borne, at the 

 outer edge, on the under surface of the leaflets. (Plate 

 XIL, fig. 1.) 



* Adiantum capilluS'Veneris, Linn. 



