22 
FERNS. 
[ Cistopteris. 
without pinnae for one-third of its height, above this bearing about 
14 pairs, opposite to each other. Pinnae ovate, blunt, length twice 
their width, their main rib winged. Pinnules about ten pairs in the 
larger pinnae, decurrent, ovate, obtuse, crenate or toothed, very 
rarely cut into distinct lobes, unless in luxuriant specimens, when 
the frond becomes wider, the pinnules very deeply cut, and some- 
times petioled, but never losing their ovate, roundish, blunt form. 
Sori scattered, and always remaining distinct, Sir J. E. Smith says 
confluent, but this does not agree with any of my specimens, though 
probably in hot weather they may be found so. 
/3. ( angustata) frond oblong, ovate. Pinna? ovate, pointed. (Platel, fig. 10.) 
Cyatliea angustata, E. B. and E. F. — Polypodium rlueticum, Dick., Bolt . — 
Aspidium rhoeticum, Willd. — By no means tlie Polypodium Rliceti. of 
Linnceus, nor tlie Polydodium tenue of Hiiffm., which is the Aspidium 
intermedium of modern Authors. 
Very distinct as a variety, not a species. It differs from the usual state of 
the plant only in a rather larger and broader frond, with pinnules doubly 
toothed and slightly pointed. Our plant in both its varieties is to be known 
from every state of Cistopteris Fragilis, in the shape of its frond and pinnules 
which in this are very much blunted, rounder, and less divided ; its raclxis also 
is shorter and less brittle, and the whole half the size of the next species, and 
double the size of Cistopteris Alpina. 
Sit. On rocks in the north of England and Wales. 
Hab. — Cader Idris, and on rocks near Wrexham, Mr. J. E. Bowman. 
Common about Settle, Yorks., Mr. J. Tatham. Rocks near Barmouth, Mr. 
Purton. Snowdon, Mr. C. C. Babington. Craig Breidden, Montgomerysb., 
Rev. A. Bloxam. Castle Dinas, Mr. W. Leighton. Ben Lawers, Perthshire, 
Mr. R. Maughan. — /3. On lofty hills in the North, Sir J. E. Smith. Near 
Llanberris, Caern., Mr. Lloyd. Gordalc, in Craven, Mr. Curtis. Downton, 
in Herefordshire, 
Geo. — Common in Germany, Switzerland, Daupliiny, Prussia, Holland, 
Verona, &c. 
2.— CISTOPTERIS FRAGILIS. 
BRITTLE BLADDER FERN. 
(Plate 1 , fig. 1 1.) 
Ciia. Frond twice-pinnate, lanceolate. Pinnae lanceolate. 
Pinnules ovate, pointed, deeply cut, toothed, decurrent. 
Syn. — Cystca Fragilis, E. FI. — Cistopteris Fragilis, Hook, in Br. FI., Mack., 
Bernh. — Aspidium fragile; Swz., Hook, in FI. Sco., Willd., Grev., Light/. 
— Polypodium fragile, With., Linn., Huds., Bolt., Hqffin., Ehrh., Dick . — 
Cyatliea fragilis, Both, Smith in E. B. S$c., Galp . — Cyclopteris fragilis, 
Schrad., Gray. 
Fig. — E. B. 1587 — Bolt. 45-46. — Flo. Dan. 101. 
Des. — Root black, fibrous, and tufted. Fronds numerous, de- 
ciduous, bright green, from six to twelve inches high, twice-pinnate, 
