O.YOC/.F.A. 
3 
This species has an extensive range in the northern hemisphere, extending round the 
globe in the cold latitudes of Europe, Asia, and America. It grows in shady places, moist 
meadows, and the sides of streams. In Europe the preference of this species for cold climates 
is very evident. It grows in Lapland within the Arctic circle, in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, 
Prussia, the Baltic provinces, Northern and Central Russia abundantly, and Poland. In Central 
and Southern Europe it is much less frequent, though it occurs in Baden, the Vosges, Piedmont, 
North Italy, South Tyrol, Bohemia, and some other places. In Western Europe it is unknown, 
and it is not found in France, the British Isles, or the Spanish Peninsula. In the East it 
extends as far south as the Crimea and the Caucasus. In Asia it is found in Siberia, the 
Ural and Altai and Baikal regions, and in Kamptschatka ; whilst in America its range extends 
throughout Canada and the Northern United States. The American plant has been called 
S'. Pennsylvania 2, Willd., but it differs in no respect from the Old World species. 
The Ostrich Fern — the name by which this species is often called in books, being a mere 
translation of the scientific name Struthiopteris — was introduced to cultivation in this country 
in 1760, by Peter Collinson, who had it in his garden at Mill Hill; but it is much less frequently 
met with in our gardens than its merits deserve. It is very easily grown, as it will do well 
either in shady or exposed situations, preferring a deep, moist, sandy soil. It may be 
effectively employed on the borders of streams or waterfalls. This species is readily propagated 
by means of its creeping stolons, and is quite hardy. Onoclca sensibi/is, to which reference has 
already been made in our notice of the genus, is also a very hardy plant, and one which is 
equally worthy of cultivation with the European species. It is indeed somewhat remarkable, 
considering how popular ferns have become, that more prominence has not been given to the 
hardy out-door species. Such plants as those now under consideration are easy to establish, 
and when once settled, require scarcely any further attention ; and there seems no reason why 
they should not be met with in our gardens as frequently as the common Male Fern. 
