138 
BRITISH TERNS. 
In Europe this fern is found plentifully as far north 
as Norway. 
It is a good variety for the fernery, only needing good 
drainage and shade to make it naturalize itself. 
15. Mephrodmm F£lix-mas. Male Buckler-fern. 
Caudex short, erect, scaly. Stem tufted, scaly. Fronds from 
1 to 3 feet, broadly lanceolate, firm, bipinnate. Leaflets oblong, 
blunt, serrated. Sori between the mid-vein and margin, round- 
ish kidney-shaped, smooth. 
Called Filix-mas, or Male-fern, from its robust habit. 
The caudex is thick and black, throwing out many 
long black roots. The fronds spring from the crown of 
the caudex in a shuttlecock 
form, the stems being short, 
not more than one- fifth the 
length of the frond, and 
densely covered with scales. 
The fronds are lance-shaped, 
tapering to the summit, and in 
a less degree towards the base. 
The pinnse are generally alter- 
nate, though they are some- 
times opposite at the base. 
The leaflets are oblong, blunt, 
and slightly lobed. The sori 
are very abundant, and the 
involucres well developed ; at 
first these are white, when 
fully grown they are lead-colour, and they turn brown 
before they fall off. 
This is a fine stately fern, and would be much prized 
