238 
THE FERN WORLD 
the elegant configuration of its fronds. But it possesses an 
indescribable charm in the pellucid and almost transparent 
texture of its leafy substance. The fronds grow from 
various points of a creeping rhizoma covered with black 
scales, and attain a length, according to circumstances, of 
from six to eighteen inches. The leafy portion is triangular 
in shape, the stipes being about the same length as the 
leafy portion, though sometimes shorter. Both are of a 
dark green colour. Along, on opposite sides of the racliis, 
the pinnae are arranged in pairs which are longest and 
broadest at the lowest part of the racliis, shortening and 
narrowing upwards. The lowest pair of pinnae are trian- 
gular in shape, becoming lance-shaped, or narrowly egg- 
shaped upwards. The pinnae are again divided into pinnules 
— narrowly egg-shaped in form — and these into irregular- 
shaped more or less deeply-cleft lobes. The venation is most 
beautiful. From the mid-ribs of the pinnae branch the mid- 
veins of the pinnules, and from these the venules of the 
lobes. These venules are several times forked, the forks or 
veinlets proceeding to the margins of the lobe segments. 
Throughout the whole of this beautiful system of veining 
there run leafy wings, green and pellucid in texture, along 
on each side of the stipes, and along on each side of the 
racliis, and of its branches. These green leafy wings 
can be readily seen, by placing a frond against the light. 
The pinnules, lobes, and the segments of the latter are 
not set out in a straight line with the mid-veins, but are 
very much crisped and curled, giving a beautiful appearance 
to the plant when growing. The fructification is produced 
at the ends of the ultimate veinlets of the lobes in little 
urn-shaped receptacles. The veinlets pass through the 
centre of these receptacles, becoming hair-like, and upon and 
around the hairy filaments are produced the sport' cases. But 
the points of the filaments, after passing into the receptacles, 
