46 
FERNS. 
[ Cryptogramma . 
preparation of tlio lighter kinds of leather, and affords excellent potash when 
burnt. Its harsh texture and astringent taste render it unpalatable to cattle, 
though the roots are sought for by pigs, and have even been dried and ground 
for bread, but only in times of the greatest scarcity. The peasants of most 
parts of the kingdom assert their right to it as fuel, and use it chiefly to heat 
their ovens, a purpose for which it is well adapted, as it burns furiously. It is 
so valuable to the farmer of Germany for cattle fodder, that it is an article of 
ready sale there, and the cutting of it subject to very severe forest laws. 
Sit. — Upon barren heaths, in parks and woods, contenting itself occasionally 
with any soil or situation ; it delights, however, in sand and strong loam, while 
it shuns the limestone and chalk districts ; thus, if I recollect rightly, it is 
scarcely found on Salisbury Plain, nor do I remember meeting it any wherein 
Kent except in sandy spots. Be it observed, however, that it is not wholly 
excluded from chalk and limestone, as I have seen it occasionally on both. 
It is not fond of a lofty nor much exposed situation, as, according to Mr. 
Watson, it is not found in places more than 500 or 600 yards above sea level. 
Geo. — Generally distributed over Europe, and in North America. The 
American species varies a little from ours, being rather more finely divided, 
somewhat ciliated, and earlier in growth. 
CRYPTOGRAMMA, Br. ROCK-BRAKE. 
(From xpmrToj, covered, a line, from the concealed lines of sori.) 
PLATE OF GENERA, FIG. X. 
Our only plant was long considered a Pteris, because, although very different 
in habit, it has, like that genus, its fruit situated near the edge of the frond in an 
apparent continued line, the reflexed edge forming its cover. It differs, however, 
in having its sori in lines along the transverse veins, and not merely at the ter- 
mination of them, also not continued along all the undulations of the whole frond, 
but confined to the separate lobes. 
CRYPTOGRAMMA CRISPA. 
ROCK-BRAKE. STONE-FERN. CRISPED-FERN. PARSLEY-FERN. 
(Plate 4, fig. 1.) 
Cha. — Frond thrice pinnate. Fertile pinnules oblong, blunt ; 
barren ones cuneiform, cleft, crenate. 
Syn. — Cryptogramma crispa, Hook, in Br. FI., Mack. Pteris crispa, 
Linn. MSS., M r illd., Swz., Hull, With., Smith, Hook, in FI. Sco ., — 
Osmunda rupcstris, Salisb. — Osmunda crispa, Linn, in Sp. PI., Huds., 
Lightf., Bolt. — Stegania onocleoides, Gray. — Onoclea crispa, Both., 
lloffm. — Allosorus crispus, Bernh., Kaulf., Spreng. 
Fig .—E. B. 1 160.— Bolt. I .—Flo. Ban. 496 .—Pluk. Phyt. t. 3 ,/. 2. 
Des . — Root slightly creeping, long and fibrous. Frond thrice 
pinnate, deciduous, of a very lively green color, 3 to 12 inches high. 
Rachis slender, smooth, and shining. Barren pinnules wedge- 
shaped or roundish, deeply cut and crenate, pinnae nearly opposite, 
but not always so, 4 or 5 pairs. Fertile fronds taller and more robust 
