European Ferns. 
150 
LASTREA OREOPTERIS, Bory (L. MONTANA, Moore). 
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We have here a fern which has much in common both with the last and the following 
species, but which a very little examination will enable 
us to distinguish from either of them. The pinnules 
gradually narrowing towards the base of the frond, 
and a certain peculiar yet pleasant balsamic odour, 
which has gained for the species the name of the Sweet- 
scented Fern, will suffice to distinguish it from either 
Lastrea Thelypteris or Lastrca Filix-mas. It has a short, 
tufted, scaly rhizome, from which very 
numerous fronds are given off. The 
stipes is very short, or almost wanting, 
the extremely small portion of the 
rachis which can bear this name being 
almost hidden by broad, pale-brown 
scales. The frond is elongate and 
lanceolate, regularly pinnate, the narrow 
acute pinnae being sessile upon the 
rachis ; they gradually diminish in 
length from near the middle to the 
base, where they are extremely short, 
obtusely triangular, and almost rudi- 
mentary. The whole of the under- 
surface of the pinnae is covered with 
small yellowish, glandular globules, 
which adhere to the fingers when the 
plant is touched, and exude a powerful 
odour, which some think unpleasant, 
but which is very generally considered 
rather agreeable. The lobes of the 
pinnre have a distinct central vein, from 
which other simple or forked veins are produced ; the 
round sori, which, although small, are larger than those 
of the preceding species, are produced n'ear the end of 
the venules upon the back of the pinnae, being most 
numerous upon the upper half of the fronds. 
This is rather a common fern, although it is often 
overlooked on account of its resemblance to the Male 
Fern — a resemblance which, as has been shown, does 
not exist when a frond is gathered. It grows upon open 
hill-sides in rather elevated districts, but is sometimes 
found in moist woody situations. I11 England, especially 
towards the north, and in Scotland it is frequent enough, 
while in Ireland it is rather less common, though still widely distributed. On the continent 
of Europe it has a wide range, extending from Lapland to Spain and Greece ; but it does 
PINNULE OF 
FERTILE FROND. 
FROND OF LASTREA OREOPTERIS. 
