THE MOUNTAIN IJUCKLEK FERN 
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most instances, and covers the centre of the cluster of spore 
cases. The habitats of this Fern are on open, mountainous 
heaths, on the margins of moorland streams, in the damp 
recesses of woods, sometimes clothing the sides of deep 
ravines, and where it is present in great numbers and in 
great luxuriance, it fills the air with its fragrant balsamic 
odours. 
Description. — Though having at first sight a striking 
resemblance to the Male Fern, Lastrea montana possesses 
some peculiar features, which when carefully noted will 
enable the difference between the two Ferns to be clearly 
recognized. The most striking resemblance is in the form 
and arrangement of pinnules on the pinnae. The arrange- 
ment of the latter on the frond, as well as the other 
characters peculiar to Montana, will prevent any confusion 
of the two species. Montana is a deciduous Fern, its 
delicately-coloured fronds — which spring, like the Male Fern, 
shuttlecock fashion, from the crown of a tufted rootstock — 
dying down at the approach of each winter, and reappearing 
in May. The caudex, or rootstock, is short, and provided 
with an abundance of fibrous rootlets. The fronds vary in 
length according to the situation of the plant, from one or 
two feet to four feet, or four feet and a half. Though their 
general outline may be said to be lance-shaped, they possess 
this peculiarity that they not only taper at both ends, but 
they taper even more acutely towards the base than towards 
the apex. It is this character that at once renders Montana 
distinct from Filix-mas. Though the latter tapers slightly 
towards the base, there is not a very great difference in 
width between the widest central pinnae and the basal ones. 
In Montana the widest part of the frond is near the apex, 
and from that part to the apex the tapering is rapid. In the 
other direction, however, towards the base of the frond, the 
pinnae taper very gradually until they often become nothing 
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