HEATH'S FERN PORTFOEIO. 
LADY Vl^K'N—Atkyrium filix-foemina- Fig. i. 
TRUE MAI DEN HAIR— capillus-veneris. Fig. 2. 
HOLLY olystichu^n lonchiiis. Figs. 3. and 4. 
ERHAPS the most beautiful of the larger and commoner herbaceous ferns— THE LADY 
VYXX\—Athyrium filix-foeinina—\^ found from one to five feet in length of frond. The fronds 
are abundant (growing from a stout tufted rootstock), lance-shaped, bright green, brittle, and very 
graceful. They are bi-pinnate, or twice divided, the stipes, or stem, being of varying lengths. 
The pinncB, on the leafy part of the frond, are narrowly lance-shaped, and are placed in opposite 
pairs, or in irregular alternation, on the rachis, and are again divided into pairs of oblong, 
somewhat blunted, and deeply and sharply indented pinnules. The undersides of the pinnules, 
which are mostly concave, have the sori arranged in lines, one line on each side of the mid- 
vein of each pinnule. Habitats. — Damp, shady parts of woods, stream banks, the sides of deep 
sheltered lanes, and almost any tolerably open but sheltered position where shade and 
moisture exist and a leaf-mould soil abounds. Distribution.— Algiers, America (North, 
and the northern part of South America), Asia (Russian), Australia, Belgium, British Islands, 
Canary Islands, Caucasus Mountains, Crete, Croatia, Cuba, Erance, Germany, Greece, Holland, 
Hungary, India, Italy, Lapland, Madeira, Mediterranean Islands, Portugal, Russia, Scandinavia 
Siberia, Spain, Switzerland, Teneriffe, Transylvania, and the Ural Mountains. 
THE TRUE MAIDENHAIR. — Adianhim capilhts-veneris—\^ evergreen, and grows from 
six inches to two feet In height. Stipes and leafy part vary in proportionate lengths. The former 
is purplish and shining, and the rachis and Its subdivisions are of the same colour, but 
delicate and hair-like. The leafy part is mostly triangular, the pinnce alternately placed along 
the rachis, and again divided Into alternately-placed pinnules, which, on short, hair-like stems, bear 
the alternately-placed fan-shaped, and more or less deeply-notched, lobes. The under edge of 
the lobe-divisions in the fertile fronds are turned down, forming a covering for the so7p, which 
thus almost fringe the lobe edges. Habitats. — Limestone rocks on sea coasts, in positions where 
shelter, in rocky crevices or under bushes, provides shade, and trickling or oozing water gives 
sufficient moisture. Distribution. — Abyssinia, Alabama, Algiers, Algoa Bay, America (South), 
Arkansas, Azores, Belgium, British Islands, Caledonia, California, Cape de Verd Islands, Caraccas, 
Caucasus, Chili, China, Dalmatia, Dominica, Egypt, Florida, France, Greece, Guatemala, India, 
Jamaica, Java, Madagascar, Madeira, Mascaren Islands, Mexico, New Hebrides, Persia, 
Portugal, St. Vincent, Sandwich Islands, Siberia, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Teneriffe, Texas 
Trinidad, and Turkey. 
ITS spined and glossy appearance, and stiff though beautiful regularity of form, give to the 
name of THE HOLLY FERN — Polystichum lonchitis — its especial appropriateness. The root- 
stock, scaly and tufted, produces fronds which grow from six Inches to two feet in length. Their form 
is narrowly lance-shaped. The stipes is very short and scaly, and the pimice are placed alternately 
along on each side of the rachis. They are distinctly wing-shaped, sharply serrated, and scaly 
underneath, the lobe-like projection, upwards, of each pinna overlapping frequently the base 
of the preceding pinna. The round heaps of spore cases are arranged in lines, on each side of 
the mid-veins of the pinius, and are confined to the upper part of the underside of the frond. 
Habitats. — Rocky crevices of mountainous regions. Distribution. — Altai Mountains, America 
(North), Asia Minor, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland 
Italy, Kamtschatka, Kashmir, Lapland Russia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. 
