64 
FERNS. 
[. Hymenophyllum . 
Syn. — A diantum Capillus-veneris, Linn., Wild., Smith, Bolt., Dicks., Hook., 
Mack. — Adiantum Capillus, Swz. — Adiantum fontanuin, Salisb., Gray . — 
Adiantum coriandrifolium, Lam. — Capillus-veneris verus, Dill, in Ray's 
Syn., Ger. 
Fig. — E. B. 1564 .—Bolt. 29 .—Jacq. Misc. t. 7.— Ger. 1143 ( bad).—Newm . 
1 and 8 (1854). 
Des.— Rootstock slightly creeping and very hairy. Leaf-stalk 
slender, shining, rigid, purplish -black, without pinnae on the lower 
part. Pinnae alternate, in young leaves lobed only, afterwards 
pinnate. Pinnules wedge-shaped, crenate or cleft at the top, 
alternate. Sori marginal, in spots, one near the end of each lobe 
of the pinnule, the apex of which is turned over, forming a white, 
oblong cover, to which the fruit itself is attached. 
The manner of the expansion of this plant is very singular and interesting. 
The young leaf is but slightly circinate in vernation, appearing at first with 
only one or two small wedge-shaped pinnules ; .after a time these split into 
lobes, which lobes become wider, long-stalked, and detached from each other, 
forming separate wedge-shaped pinnules, exactly similar to those from which 
they were detached ; and if the plant be luxuriant, these again divide in a similar 
manner; thus some leaves are found pinnate, others twice, and sometimes 
thrice pinnate. The whole plant forms an interesting object for the microscope, 
particularly the membranous indusium, which is beautifully veined. The ring 
of the thecas also is very different from that of any other British Fern. (See cut 
of the genus.) 
Vir. — T he properties of Adiantum are very uncertain. Its use is said to 
give name to the syrup Capillaire. It has neither fragrance nor flavour, and 
when boiled yields only a little mucilage. 
IIab. — P ort Kerig, Glamorganshire (verified 1834). Banks of the Carron, a 
rivulet in Kincardineshire, Professor Beattie. In a small cave on the east side 
of Carrach Gladden, a cove on the north coast of Cornwall, between Ilavle and 
St. Ives, Professor Henslow. Isles of Arran, county of Galway, Dr. Osborne. 
At Wrisbeg, on a rock facing south-west on the shore of Loch Bulard, Mr. C. C. 
Babington. Dunraven, Glamorgans., Prof Henfrey. Ufracome, Devon., Dr. 
J. E. Gray. 
Geo. — South Europe, Isles of Bourbon, Teneriffe, Jamaica, and Hispaniola. 
HYMENOPHYLLUM, Swz. FILMY FERN. 
(Yyyv, a membrane, <pv\\ov, a leaf; or the membranous-leafed Fern.) 
A, part of a leaf of Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense. B, the same slightly 
increased to sfiow the veins of' the leaf and the origin and character of the 
fruit. C, sorus magnified, and one of its covers removed. D, theca, with 
transverse ring. E, the same opened. F, spores. 
In this small and delicate gentis, a lobe of the pinna is constructed into the 
fruit and its receptacle, the lamina of the lobe forming two valves, inclosing 
