THE HARD FERN 
2 1 1 
mid-veins of the pinnules, and at their earliest stage of growth 
are distinct ; but as they develop they become confluent and 
cover the entire under-surface of the pinnules. They are 
covered by indusia which, as the spore cases become ripe, 
burst on the side nearest the mid-rib of the pinnule, and are 
thrown back, adhering however to the edge of the latter. At 
this stage the whole under side of the fertile frond is covered 
by rich brown masses of seed, giving to it a velvety 
appearance. The stipes of the fertile frond is about half the 
length of the leafy portion, and it, as well as the rachis, is of 
a purplish colour. In the barren fronds the pinnules are 
frequently pinnatifid, but in the fertile ones they are never 
so, being what is called simply pinnate. The texture of both 
fronds is thick and leathery ; the barren ones being mostly of 
a glossy green, and drooping around the taller and more 
erect fruitful spikes which rise up in the centre of the barren 
clusters. The latter are evergreen, but the fruitful spikes 
disappear, as soon as they have shed their ripened spores, 
on the approach of winter. There have been discovered no 
less than seventy departures from the normal form of this 
Fern ; but this species is the only one in Britain of the genus 
Blcchnum, which consists of Ferns having their spore cases 
borne at the backs of the pinnules in straight lines midway 
between the mid- veins of the pinnules and the edges of the 
latter, and protected by linear indusia. 
Distribution. — From the sea level to a height of four 
thousand feet above it, this Fern is found to grow. It occurs 
very generally throughout the countries of Europe ; in Japan ; 
in the north of Africa as well as in the south at the Cape of 
Good Hope ; also in the Azores, in the Canary group, and in 
the island of Madeira; in the north-west of America, in 
the Chilian province of South America, and in Australia. 
In England it is widely distributed, occurring in the following 
counties: Bedford, Berks, Cambridge, Chester, Cornwall, 
o 2 
