182 
BRITISH FERNS. 
The natural habitat of the Maiden-hair fern is in the 
fissures of rocks near the sea in warm climates. A few 
localities in the south of England, as St. Ives and Ilfra- 
combe, and a few in Ireland and Wales, are the only 
British resorts of this fern ; and even in such a warm 
atmosphere it grows shyly, generally selecting a perpen- 
dicular surface for its few elegant fronds to droop from. 
In the south of Europe it grows in profusion, clothing 
the mouth of wells, and the roofs and sides of caves. 
In cultivation it is useless to attempt to grow the 
Maiden-hair in the open fernery; in the greenhouse it 
flourishes very well. Mr. Johnson directs that the pots 
in which it is placed should be plunged in pans of shallow 
water, the decayed fronds removed from time to time, 
and the compost formed of lime rubbish, sandy peat, and 
pebbles. 
TRICHOMANES. 
Gen . Char. “ Involucre subcylindrical, entire or nearly so. 
Capsules sessile, with a broad, entire, oblique ring, surrounded 
on a columnar receptacle. Beceptacle usually exserted in the 
form of a bristle .” — Sir W. Hooker . 
42. Trichomanes radicals* Sw. Rooting Bristle- 
fern, 
Caudex long, creeping, downy. Stems winged. Eronds 
ovate, pointed. Leaflets oblong, blunt, often in two teeth. In- 
volucre cylindrical. Sori seated upon a centre column. 
The name is formed of two words, meaning hair and 
excess , in reference to the bristles. 
This only British Bristle-fern has numerous long 
thread-shaped rootlets, the caudex is slender, creeping, 
black, and downy, it branches and intertwines so as to 
