Blechnum . ] 
FERNS. 
57 
The above, except /3, can scarcely be considered distinct varieties, but should 
rather be accounted monstrosities, particularly y, which is produced by over 
abundance of food and warmth ; thus if the common state of the plant he trans- 
planted to rich soil in a greenhouse, it will rarely ever fail to produce leaves cleft 
more or less towards the apex. These same plants, if again thrown out and 
neglected, will return to their original state. The spores of all the varieties will 
produce the common plant. 
Sir J. E. Smith remarks, that “ the whole plant has a nauseous scent when 
bruised, and is of a mucilaginous and acid taste.” It is now discarded from 
the regular practice of medicine, but frequently still sold in our herb-shops, 
being used in an ointment for burns, &c., and taken internally as an astringent. 
Sit. — In damp ruins, rocks, wells, &c. 
IIab. — Scarcely a common Fern, though abundant in some places, parti- 
cularly in the south and west of both England and Ireland, hut decreasing in 
quantity northwards. Isle of Man, Mr. E. Forbes. Near Braunston, Leices- 
tershire (rare), Rev. A. Bloxam. In Wagg Lane, Congleton, Cheshire ; also at 
Buxton, Matlock, and Dove Dale, Derbyshire, Mr. H. C. Watson. Near Leeds, 
Mr. II. Denny. Near Richmond and Settle, Yorkshire, Mr. J. Tatham. Three 
varieties on Pottery Carr, near Doncaster, Mr. Appleby. Ilawkstone, Salop, 
Mr. J. S. Bayly. Abundant about Twickenham, Whitton, Hounslow, Brentford, 
&c., Middlesex ; also at Barnes Common and Wimbledon Common, Surrey, G. F. 
Arniston Woods, Edinburgh, Mr. W. Brand. Cawdor Woods, Mr. W. Stables. 
Moray, Rev. G. Gordon. Sutherland, Aberdeenshire, and Kincardineshire, but 
by no means common, Dr. Murray. Orkney, Dr. Gillies. Near Wrexham, 
Denb., Mr. J. E. Bowman. Castell Aber, Lleiniog, Anglesea, Mr. W. Leighton. 
— y : Caernarvon Castle, Mr. J. F. M. Dovaston. Carreg Onan, Anglesea, 
Mr. W. Leighton. 
Geo. — Found throughout Europe, but sparingly towards the north. Very rare 
in North America, being, according to Pursh, found only in one place, viz., New 
York. 
BLECHNUM, Linn. HARD FERN. 
(From (3\yKvov, a Greek name for a Fern.) 
A, portion of a fertile leaf of Blechnum boreale. B .pinnule magnified, showing 
the covers or indusia. C, transverse section of sori, pinnule, and indusia. D, 
theca and spores. E, transverse section of leaf -stalk. 
A genus of thirty-one species, known by bearing their fruit in closely united 
masses, not on transverse veins, as in Scolopendrium, but one on each side, and 
close to the midrib of the pinnule. Indusia attached on the outer side of each 
mass, opening on the inner side, but not folding over each other as in the fast 
genus. 
