HEATH’S FERN PORTFOLIO. 
HARD PRICKLY SHIELD FERN— Po/ysfickum aculeatum. Fig. i. 
ALPINE BLADDER FERN— Cy stop teris regia. Fig. 2. 
ANNUAL NiKlEENFiklR— Gy m7^ogramma leptophylla. Figs. 3 and 4. 
PARSLEY FERN— A //osorus crispus. Figs. 5 and 6. 
A 
RIGID, leathery, but withal graceful aspect, has THE HARD PRICKLY SHIELD 
FERN — Polystichum aculeahmi — whose handsome evergreen fronds grow from two to 
four feet in length. The short stipes is scaly ; the leafy part lance-shaped, and divided 
into alternate lance-shaped pinnce^ which are again parted into spined, wing-shaped pinnules, the 
basal pinnule of e.dic]i pinna being more than proportionately larger than the others. The rounded 
clusters of spore cases are spread in lines on both sides of the mid-veins of the pinnules, but chiefly 
occur on the upper half of the underside of the frond. The frond figured was obtained from the 
collection of Professor Dyer, of Kew Gardens. Habitats. — The higher slopes of woods, the 
sloping sides of hedge-banks, and the sides of walls skirting streams. Distribution. — Africa 
(South), America (United States), Asia, Austria, Belgium, British Islands, France, Germany, 
Greece, Holland, Italy, Madeira, Portugal, Russia, Scandinavia, Spain, Switzerland, and 
Turkey. 
BROADLY lance-shaped in form, the beautiful fronds of THE ALPINE BLADDER 
FERN — Cystopteris regia — attain a length of from three to ten inches. The pining are irregularly 
alternated on the rachis^ are irregularly ovate in form, and are divided into ovate and more or less 
deeply cleft pinnules. Upon the undersides of these are evenly but somewhat sparsely scattered the 
hood-covered sori. Habitats. — Rocky fissures and the crevices of old walls. Distribution. — 
Alpine regions of Europe, Asia Minor, Belgium, Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), Croatia, 
Dalmatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Transylvania. 
DISTINGUISHED from all the other ferns described in this volume by its annual habit of 
growth, THE ANNUAL MAIDENHAIR — Gyinnogranima leptophylla — dies away as soon as it 
has completed its purpose by the shedding of its spores. From its tufted rootstock spring pretty, 
delicate, herbaceous, bright-green fronds, which, as they succeed each other, become, in their three 
gradations, taller and taller, and vary from three to nine inches in length. The later and more 
perfect ones, like those figured, are bi-pinnate, or twice divided, and triangular in form, with 
irregularly-shaped alternate pinnce^ parted into pinnules cleft, in turn, into fan- shaped indented 
lobes. Thickly covering the undersides of these are the non-indusiate lines of spore cases. 
Habitats. — Amongst dwarf vegetation on moist banks (facing south) over which ooze some 
trickling streams of water. Distribution. — Abyssinia, Algiers, Azores, Canaries, Cape of Good 
Hope, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Jersey, Madeira, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, 
Portugal, Sicily, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Vera Cruz, and Victoria. 
ITS common name indicates the peculiarity of form of THE PARSLEY FERN — Allosorus 
crisptLS — which from its tufted rootstock throws up two kinds of frond, barren and fertile. The 
former, or leafy ones — four to eight inches long — are triangular, and divided into alternately-placed 
pinnce, parted into alternate wedge-shaped pinnules that are again divided into cleft, wedge-shaped 
lobes. Precisely the same arrangement is noticeable in the taller fertile fronds ; but in these the 
lobes are much contracted by their edges being bent under to form coverings for the crowded and 
ultimately confluent spore cases. Habitats. — Rocky sides of mountainous or hilly country— its 
abundance in such positions having obtained for it the name of ‘ rock brakes.’ Distribution. — 
America (North), British Islands, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lapland, Norway, 
Sitka, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. For fronds for the figures of the three species last named 
the Author is indebted to Mr. F. W. Stansfield, of Sale. 
