THE ROYAL FERN. 
162 
venules being parallel, slightly curved, and once or 
twice forked before reaching the margin, where they 
are lost. In the fertile parts of the frond only the 
midrib of the pinnules is fully developed, and the 
spore- cases are attached to a small portion of the 
veins, which becomes developed just to serve as a 
receptacle. The spore-cases are of a reddish-brown, 
nearly globe-shaped, shortly stalked, reticulated, and 
two-valved, the valves opening vertically. 
The Flowering Fern grows naturally in wet, springy, 
or boggy places, not much above the sea-level in Eng- 
land, and sometimes on the sea-shore hardly above 
high-water mark. It is common throughout Europe ; 
is found in Asia, in Mingrelia, and in India ; in North 
and South Africa, in the Azores, and in Madagascar ; 
and in North and South America, in Canada and New- 
foundland, the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. It 
is of easy culture, needing only moisture and a peaty 
soil in any sheltered situation. The caudex is said to 
possess tonic and styptic properties ; according to 
Gerard, the “ root ” boiled or stamped, and taken with 
some kind of liquor, is “ thought to be good for 
those that are wounded, dry-beaten, and bruized.” 
In Cumberland and Westmorland, and that adjoining 
part of Lancashire which should be Westmorland 
also, it is known as the “bog-onion,” and held in 
esteem as an external application for bruizes, sprains, 
&c. The caudices are beaten, covered with cold 
spring water, and allowed to macerate all night ; the 
thick starchy fluid thus formed being used to bathe 
the parts affected. 
