Cryptogramma . ] 
FERNS. 
.■)/ 
Also, in Shakspere’s Henry IV, Part I, though here spoken ironically, Gadshill 
says — “We have the receipt for Fern seed, we walk invisible.” 
Several other country adages attach themselves to the Fern, as the following : 
“When the Fern is as high as a spoon. 
You may sleep an hour at noon ; 
When the Fern is as high as a table. 
You may sleep as long as you’re able." 
Passing, however, these absurdities, of which many others might have been 
adduced, we may remark that very few of our poetical writers have thought the 
Fern tribe worth their attention. Miss Tvvamley, however, is an exception ; she 
has many passages in the 1 Romance of Nature,’ and other works, which relate 
to them. She speaks of “ the fan-like Ferns, which seem poised still and 
sleepily until the morn returns.” In another place, — 
“ The Ferns, too, are waving all statelily here. 
With seed-stored fronds thickly laid; 
< And shedding, when hastily brushed by the deer. 
Their light fertile dust o’er the glade.” 
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 anywhere in 
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 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 tcpvTTTog, covered, ypappa, a line ; from the concealed lines of thecae.) 
A, portion of a fertile frond of Cryptogramma crispa. B, a pinnule some- 
what enlarged. C, ditto with the lateral margins thrown hack to show the 
position of the fruit. D, transverse section of the pinnule. E, pinnule of a 
barren frond. F, a variety of ditto. G, theca thrown open, and spores. 
Our only plant was long considered a Pteris, because, although very different 
in habit, it has, like that gemis, 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 not continued along all the undulations of the whole 
frond, but confined to the sides of the separate lobes. 
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