THE ROYAL FERN 
215 
of cloud, piled lip against the horizon, silvering the surface 
of the rippling lake and adding a richer hue to the golden 
locks of Osmund’s darling child. Suddenly the sound of 
hurrying footsteps startled the quiet group. Men, women, 
and children came running from the neighbouring village, 
and, breathlessly, as they passed, they told the ferryman that 
the terrible Danes were coming. Quick as thought Osmund 
sprang to his feet, seized his wife and child, and hurried 
them into his ferry boat. Away he rowed with them — 
pulling for very life — in the direction of a small island in 
the loch, densely covered with the tall and stately fronds of 
the Eoyal Fern. He quickly hid his precious charges 
amongst the clustering fronds, and then rowed rapidly back 
to his ferry place. He had rightly divined that the Danes, 
needed his assistance, and would not hurt him. For many 
hours of the ensuing night he worked with might and main 
to carry the tierce invaders across the ferry. When they 
had all disappeared on the opposite bank, Osmund returned 
to his trembling wife and child, and brought them safely 
back to his cottage. I11 commemoration, it is said, of this 
event the fair daughter of Osmund gave the great island 
Fern her father’s name. Those who care not to accept this 
fanciful origin of the name Osmundci, will perhaps incline to 
the suggestion which has been made, that the generic name 
had been derived from an old Saxon word signifying strength, 
the specific name indicating its royal or stately habit of 
growth . 
Description. — The largest of our native species, Osmundci 
regalis, more nearly than any other amongst them, approaches 
the form of a tree Fern. It grows from a height of two or 
three feet to twelve. The caudex or rootstock is stout and 
tufted, and in old and finely- developed plants it is raised to 
a height of two feet or more from the ground, in this 
particular more especially resembling the habit of a tree 
