592 
CVin. POLYPODIACE.E. 
\_Pteris. 
9. Pteris Linn. Brake. (Tab. X. f. 4.) 
Sori continuous, linear, marginal. Involucres formed of the 
reflexed margin of the frond, frequently dilated into a mem- 
brane, opening internally. — Fertile fronds similar to the barren 
ones. Veins forked in the British species. — Name: tt rtpit;, 
a fern ; from irrtpvZ, a plume , or feather. 
1. P. aquilina L. (common B.) ; fronds tripartite, branches 
bipinnate, pinnules linear-lanceolate superior undivided inferior 
pinnatifid, the segments oblong obtuse. E. B. t. 1679: 
Newni. p. 93, 101. Eupteris Newm. ed. 3, p. 23, 31. 
Woods, heaths, and stony or sandy soils ; abundant. %. 7, 8. — 
Fronds to 6 feet high. 
10. Cryptogramme Nr. Rock-brake. (Tab. X. f. 5.) 
Sori roundish, ultimately confluent, marginal. Involucre 
formed by the revolute margins of the pinnules, which in a 
young state meet at the back. — Fertile fronds dissimilar to the 
barren ones. Veins forked. — Name: icpwroc, concealed , and 
ypap.pt], a line ; from the concealed lines of capsules. 
1. C. crispa Br. ( curled R., or Parsley -fern) ; barren fronds 
bipinnate, pinnules bi-tripinnatifid, segments cuneate or linear- 
oblong, often bidentate at the extremity, fertile fronds bipin- 
nate tripinnate below, pinnules linear-oblong rather obtuse 
entire narrow at the base. Pteris L. : E. B. t. 1160. Allo- 
sorus Bernh. : Newm. p. 103, 108 ; ed. 3, p. 35, 39. 
Among loose stones in mountainous countries in the north : more 
abundant in the north-west of England than in Scotland. 
11. Blechnum Linn. Hard-fern. (Tab. X. f. 6.) 
Sori linear, longitudinal, contiguous, parallel, one on each 
side of the rib or midvein. Involucre continuous, opening on 
the side next the niidvein. — Fertile fronds usually dissimilar to 
the barren ones in the British species. Veins forked. — Name : 
fiXt/xror, or fiXtixpor, a fern. 
1. B. boredle Sw. ( Northern II)', barren fronds pectinato- 
pinnatifid, the segments lanceolate somewhat obtuse, central 
fertile fronds pinnate, pinnae linear acuminate, with the margin 
recurved. E. B. t. 1159. B. Spicant Roth: Newm. ed. 3, p. 
18, 21. Lomaria Desv. : Newm. p. 90, 92. 
Woods and heaths, abundant ; especially in a poor light soil. 2/.. 
7, 8. — In spring several pinnate fertile fronds arise from the centre 
of a tuft of barren ones, and these two kinds are very dissimilar. But 
during summer some of the outer flat fronds are occasionally found 
fertile ; in these the involucre is easily seen to he by no means mar- 
ginal, as in Lomaria, to which this species is more allied in general 
appearance than to Blechnum. 
