i ispidium. j 
FERNS. 
41 
a fine point, on the upper side smooth, on the under side hairy, 
particularly about the main rib, and covered with yellowish, shining 
glands, smelling of turpentine. Segments very numerous, flat, blunt, 
and entire. Sori marginal, at length confluent, covering all the 
pinnae. Indusium thin, white, kidney-shaped, soon shrivelling up. 
The fresh plant may instantly be known from all its congeners by the smell 
emitted when drawn through the hand, or by holding it up to the light, in 
which situation it shows very plainly translucent, minute points, very similar 
to those seen in Hypericum perforatum ; though, be it observed, that unfavorable 
situation and cold weather will often prevent the formation of, if not obliterate 
these odorous pores. They are most abundant when the plants grow in sunny, 
but not too dry localities. This Fern can only he mistaken for Asp. Thel. or 
Asp. Fil.-mas. It has already been distinguished from the former in describing 
that plant ; from the latter it may easily he known by its more elegant shape, 
its smaller size and more delicate structure, no less than by its greater smooth- 
ness in every part, particularly its rachis. The segments of the pinna; also are 
not erenate, as in Filix-mas ; and the sori, which in that are large, distinct, and 
confined to the lower half of the segment, are in this plant small, closer together, 
more numerous, and continued throughout the whole length of the segment, very 
near the margin. 
Sit. — On heaths and in shady lanes, not uncommon in the North. 
Hab. — Scot. : Glen Isla, Forfarsh,, Mr. W. Brand. Common in Sutherland, 
Dr. Johnston. Banks of Loch Tay, Mr. T. II. Cooper. Aberdeenshire, hut not 
common, Dr. Murray. Foot of Craig Chailleach, &c., Mr. W. Wilson. — Eng. : 
Near Chapel Weardale, Durham ; and Cawsey Dean, near Newcastle, Mr. R. B. 
Bowman. Keswick, and near Lodore Waterfall, Cumbl., Mr. H. C. Watson. 
By the Tees, Mr. J. Hogg. Near Richmond, Yorks., Mr. J. Ward. Coleshill 
Heath and Corley, Warw., Rev. W. Bree. Near Warrington, Mr. W. Wilson. 
Dethick Moor, and near Riley, Derbys., Dr. Howitt. Isle of Man, Mr. Forbes. 
Dallington Heath, near Northampton, Mr. Anderson. N. side of Sliotover Hill, 
Oxfordsh., Mr. Baxter. Oxton and Eddingley Bogs, Notts ; and Hartswell, near 
Farnsfield, Mr. T. H. Cooper. Somerset, Mr. A. Southby. Bradwell, Suffolk, 
Mr. Turner. Sussex and Kent, Rev. G. E. Smith. Bailey’s Hill, between 
Brasted and Tunbridge (1835), Mr. Pamplin. — Wales : Near Wrexham, Denbigh- 
shire, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Llanberris and Nant Gwynedd, Caernarvonsh., Mr. C. 
C. Babington. Frequent in Caernarvonsh., Mr. W. Wilson. — Ire. : Powerscourt 
Deer Park and Waterfall, Mangerton Mountain, Dr. Osborne. Lough Corril, 
Galway, Mr. Shuttleworth. Plentiful in Ireland, Mr. MacJcay. 
Geo. — Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Prussia, &c. 
6. — ASPIDIUM FILIX-MAS. 
MALE FERN. 
(Plate III, fig. 3.) 
Cha. — Leaf pinnate or almost bipinnate, broadly lanceolate. 
Pinnse alternate, very deeply pinnatisect. Segments obtuse, erenate. 
Sori near the central vein. 
Syn. — Aspidium Filix-mas, Swz., Willd., Smith , Hook., Galp., Mack. — Poly- 
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