MARSH FERN. 
185 
In Scotland it does not seem of common occurrence : some 
of the few localities which have reached me have turned out on 
investigation to have originated in mistake, a small form of Las- 
trcaa Oreopteris having been taken for the present plant. Through 
the kindness of Scotch botanists I have received very careful 
lists of the ferns of Argyleshire, Dumbartonshire, Dumfriesshire, 
Kirkcudbrightshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire, and from all 
of these it is absent. I am indebted to Mr. Watson for the in- 
formation of its occurrence in Forfarshire, on the authority of 
Mr. R. Maughan ; Mr. Watson adds “ not in fruit, but I believe 
the name correct.” 
In Ireland it seems equally uncommon : through the kindness 
of Mr. W. Thompson I have received the following extract from 
the MSS. of the late Mr. Templeton, respecting this fern — plen- 
tiful among woods and bushes in the low part of Portmore park, 
on the side of Lough Neath, county Antrim.” Mr. Moore in- 
forms me he has subsequently found it on the same spot. Near 
Lough Carra, county Mayo. — Mr. J. Ball. Marsh near 
Mucruss. — ’Mr. Mackay. Captain Jones informs me he subse- 
quently found it at this station, but several botanists have lately 
sought diligently without success. 
This species occurs in every country in Europe. In Asia, 
Africa, and South America, it is said to have been found, and I 
am indebted to Mr. Boott for both fronds and living plants from 
the United States, which are so similar to our British plant that 
I am unable to detect any character by which to distinguish them. 
It is rather a remarkable fact in connexion with the history 
of this fern that it has never been represented in ^ English Bo- 
tany,’ the figure which bears its name^ being, as already stated, 
evidently drawn from a specimen of Polypodium Phegopteris. 
Bolton made a somewhat similar mistake, by figuring Lastrcea 
Oreopteris in its stead,f but this he subsequently rectified by 
repeating the species under its proper name ;X his second figure 
is a very good one. 
Botanists seem scarcely agreed as to the genus to which this 
fern should be referred. Presl places it in Bory’s genus Las- 
* Eng. Bot. 1018. 
f Bolt. Fil. tab. 22. 
.t Id. tab. 43. 
