47 
every country except Spain, where one would rather suppose 
it to be unobserved than absent, since it commonly occurs 
throughout Prance and ascends the Pyrenees to the height 
of 2500 feet. It is found in Asia, Northern and Southern 
Africa, and North America. In North America it is ex- 
tremely rare but perfectly identical with our British plant.” 
In this district this species is less common than the follow- 
ing one, the Angular Prickly Pern. 
The Prickly Pern has a short stalk (stipes) which is 
densely covered with scales. The fronds are stiff, one to 
two feet high, lance-shaped, or even linear. The leaflets 
nearest the rachis or mid-stem of the frond on the upper 
part of the lower pinnae are much longer than the one next 
to it, and often overlap the base of the pinnule next above it. 
The leaflets also have no distinct stalk, but are either de- 
current, that is, one leaflet seems to run into the other, or 
have a thick wedge-shaped base by which it is attached to 
the rachis. If we hold up the Pern we shall observe that 
the lowest part of this leaflet is close to the mid-stem of the 
frond, while the light will appear in the upper part. The 
pinnae are alternate. The scales are not only upon the stalk 
but also on the mid-stem or rachis, where they are much 
narrower and almost linear. The whole plant is tough and 
leathery and not only outlives one but sometimes two or 
three winters. The different years’ production may be 
distinguished by their difference in colour and their browner 
aspect. It is also more erect than the succeeding species, 
and of a more rigid texture. The plants are fully formed 
about Midsummer, and the fructification appears quite ripe 
a month or two later. There is a little projection or ear 
(auricle) to the leaflets, especially those nearest the mid- 
stem at the bottom and outer edge of these leaflets. This • 
is still more apparent in the next species. Often the back 
of the upper part of the frond is thickly covered with clus- 
ters of spores. The side-veins of our Prickly Ferns are 
alternately branched. The branches never meet but reach 
the edge of the leaflet. The masses of fruit are seated on 
the uppermost branch of the side-veins. To each serrature 
there is a sharp and strong bristle, and hence the name 
Prickly Fern. 
