106 CYSTOPTEEIS ANGUSTATA. 
than those on the lower side ; the cuts are all along the 
sides of the leafits. These characteristics distinctly dis- 
tinguish this Fern from Cystopteris fragilis, and C. 
centata. The fructification is round, and smaller, and 
less prominent than in those two species; always 
continuing distinct, standing either in solitary masses 
or in pairs, towards the bottom of each cut dividing two 
lobes from each other; at first pale, but finally becoming 
brown. The cover (indusium) white, very thin, concave, 
irregularly torn, soon pushed off, or aside, by the com- 
paratively large, though not numerous, shining brown 
capsules. 
It is found, but not commonly, in wooded places ou 
mountain!; and on shaded rocks ; as near Llanberis, in 
North Wales ; at Gordale, in Craven, Yorkshire ; on 
shaded rocks in many parts of Scotland ; on the moun- 
tains of Westmorland ; on the top of G-lyder Mountains, 
on the side overhanging Llyn Ogwen Lake, and near 
Ffynnon felon, and on the Leek Road, about a mile 
from Buxton. 
This Fern was first discovered in Hhaetia, whence its 
earliest name of RhcEticum, but it is first mentioned as 
a British Fern by Gerard, if his Filicula petrcea mas is 
really his name for the present species. There is, how- 
ever, much uncertainty about the early history of this 
Fern, and this uncertainty has been thus well-pointed 
out by the late Sir J. E. Smith. 
" Great confusion has always existed amongst our Biitish 
botanists concerning Polypodium (Cystopleris) rhteticum. 
Hooker has it not. Ligntfoot appears, by what he says in his FL 
