58 
BEAUTIFUL FERNS. 
There is a European var. flexilis, with very narrow, nearly 
sessile fronds, and the pinnae often deflexed, which has not been 
observed in America. 
Undoubtedly the greatest resemblance of this fern is to the 
lady-fern, Asplenium Filix-fmnina ; but that species has a very 
well-developed indusium, while the minute objects delineated by 
Mettenius scarcely deserve the name. 
The stalks are clearly continuous with the root-stock ; and 
for this reason the plant is plainly not a Polypodium, whatever 
else it may finally be determined to be. 
