TABLE OF BRITISH FERNS. 
Ferns — in Latin Filices — are flowerless plants, 
bearing seed-vessels (spore-cases ) on their fronds. “All 
Ferns ” says Moore, — “are referrible to one of* three 
groups : Ophioglossacece — Polypodiacece — Marattiacece. 
Of these the Ophioglossacese and Marattiacese are 
but small groups, while the Polypodiaceae include the 
greater portion of all known Ferns. These three 
groups may each be regarded as a distinct order of 
plants, forming together the Filices, or Ferns.” The 
Marattiacese are not found in the British Isles. We 
have therefore only to do with the two natural orders — 
P olypodiace.® or True Ferns and Ophioglossacece 
or Adder's Tongue Ferns. 
Polypodiacece are Ferns whose young fronds are 
rolled up in a circinate form , and whose spore-cases 
are girt with an elastic hand. The presence of this 
ring, in some form or other, nearly or completely sur- 
