GENUS XIII. 
PTERIS, Linnaeus. 
BRACKEX. 
GEN. CHAR Sori linear continuous marginal, covered 
bv the attenuated reflexed margin of the pinnules. Vein-: 
two or three times forked ; mid-vein distinct ; venules 
direct, their apices combined by a sporangiferous receptacle. 
This plant is the Filix famina, or female fern of the 
old authors. It is unquestionably the most common and 
widely dispersed of our indigenous ferns, often entirely 
over-running extensive tracts of country, but apparently 
not occurring on the chalk. 
The name is the Greek pteris signifying a fern, and 
that comes from pteron a wing or feather, and is applied 
in allusion to the form assumed by the fronds. 
1. Pteris aquilina, Linnceus. Common Brakes or 
Bracken. Fronds bi-tri-pinnate ; primary pinnae in pairs ; 
ultimate divisions sessile, the terminal one elongate. There 
appear to be two very distinct forms of this plant : 
a. vera ; pinnules for the most part piunatifid, or 
sinuate, the segments oblong-obtuse. 
PTERIS AQUILINA, Linnaeus: Sm. Eng. Fl. iv., 305: Eng. Bot. 
1679: Bab. Man. 415: Newm. 93: Florigr. Brit, iv., 54: Hook 
and Arn, Fl. 575: Franc. 55. EUPTEBIS AQUILWA, Newman, 
Phytol. ii. 278 ; App. iii. 
