32 . 
THE MOUNTAIN UUCKLEE FERN. 
Lostrea montaua. 
Plate 11 , Fig. 2 , Page 331 . 
As the moist hedge-bank, whose sides are clothed with the 
fronds of La street recur c a } gives forth the sweet scent of hay, 
so the open heath on the mountain side becomes fragrant by 
the presence of the Mountain Buckler Fern. To an exceed- 
ing gracefulness of form and delicacy of colouring, this 
beautiful species, like its charming relative, adds the 
additional attraction possessed by its balsamic odours. 
Opinions differ as to its title to be included amongst the 
Buckler Ferns, and from the circumstance that its round 
clusters of spore cases are partially non-indusiate, sometimes 
being quite naked or unprotected by the scale-like covering 
present in most Ferns, it has been regarded by some botanists 
as a Polypody, the distinguishing character of that genus 
consisting, it will be remembered, in the entire absence of an 
indusium. It is obvious, however, that in deciding as to the 
grouping of plants into genera, some account must be taken 
of general features of resemblance ; and the Mountain 
Buckler Fern possesses so marked a general resemblance to 
Lastrea filix mas, that if it be admitted that that species has 
superior claims to a place amongst the Buckler Ferns, the 
title of the present species to a similar position cannot be 
gainsayed. The indusium, though not very distinctly 
buckler-shaped, and though often imperfect, is still present in 
