HEATH’S FERN PORTFOLIO. 
MARSH BUCKLER FERN— thelypteris. Fig. i. 
BRITTLE ^l^hD'DEK'FE'K^-Cystopteris fragilis. Fig. 2. 
MOUNTAIN BLADDER VE¥.i^—Cystopteris Montana. Fig. 3. 
SEA SVLEE^WOKT—Aspknium marinum. Figs. 4 and 5. 
MARSH BUCKLER FERN— Las^y^ea thelypteris— two kinds of fronds, barren 
I and fertile ; the former, from one to three feet long, being lance-shaped, light green, delicate, 
herbaceous, with alternately-placed, rather distant, narrowly lance-shaped pmnee, cleft into 
short, oblong, blunted pinnules, mostly connected by a basal leafy wing. The fertile fronds are 
similar, but longer, sometimes four feet, and having contracted lobes bearing underneath circular 
heaps — sori — of spore cases along all the lobe edges. Habitats. — Marshes and other boggy 
places, growing often in bog water, and preferring the shelter of trees. Distribution. — Algiers, 
America (North and South), North-western Asia, Atlantic Ocean Islands (including British Islands), 
Cape of Good Hope, New Zealand. 
A DELICATE herbaceousness and a tendency to break easily give to THE BRITTLE 
BLADDER EERN — Cystopteris fragilis — Its specific name. Its broadly lance-shaped 
fronds — divided into irregularly alternate, somewhat triangular pinnce, which are again parted 
into irregularly alternate. Irregularly oblong, pinnules (cleft into serrated lobes) — grow thickly 
from its tufted rootstock to lengths of from six to fourteen inches. The clusters of spore cases — 
each cluster covered by the bladder-like indttsium, or cover — are densely scattered over the under- 
sides of the fronds. Habitats. — Limestone rocks, in damp and shady crevices, and, less 
frequently, the walls of buildings. Distribution. — Abyssinia, Afghanistan, Altai Mountains, 
Asia Minor, Azores, Bahamas, California, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape of Good Hope 
Chili, Columbia, Cuba, Europe generally (Including England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales 
Grenada, Guatemala, Himalayan and Kashmir Mountains, Jamaica, Kamtschatka, Labrador, 
Madeira, Mexico, Nepal, New Granada, Peru, Quito, Siberia, Simla, Tasmania, Teneriffe, Thibet, 
United States, and Ural Mountains. 
THE MOUNTAIN BLADDER FERN — Cystopteris montana — grows, from a 
creeping rootstock, from four to ten inches in length. The stipes or stalk Is twice as long, 
usually, as the leafy part, which is triangular. The pinnce decrease in size upwards, the lower 
pinnules of each pinnce being mostly longer than the upper ones ; but the disproportion diminishes 
upwards, and, towards the apex, disappears. The oblong lobes are deeply cleft below — the 
indentations diminishing upwards towards the frond tip. The hood-covered sori are scattered upon 
the whole underside of the frond. Habitats.— Rocky nooks In moist mountainous localities, 
especially in positions where water trickles along the rocky surfaces. Distribution.— America 
(North), Asia, Denmark, Erance, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kamtschatka, Lapland, Norway, 
Rocky Mountains, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Wales (North). 
EVERGREEN, like the rest of its genus, THE SEA SPLEEN WO 
marinum — is distinguished by Its stout leathery texture. Its length ranges from six 
inches to three feet. The stipes Is mostly purple, the rachis partly purple and partly green. The 
leafy part is narrow and strap-shaped, or bluntly lance-shaped, and the pinnce, alternate on 
the rachis, and connected by a narrow leafy wing, are ear-shaped. The sori, on the under- 
side, are arranged In oblique lines. Habitats.— Sea cliffs and rocks near the sea, in moist 
shady positions. Distribution.— Coasts of Africa (North), America (North), Australia, Azores, 
Barbary, Bermudas, British Islands, Canary Islands, Corsica, France, Ionian Isles, Italy, Madeira, 
New Brunswick, New Holland, Portugal, Rio Grande, Spain, and Tanglers. 
