34 
healing powers. Eay however appears to have been 
acquainted with it, and denominates it “ The Male Fern of 
the heathfield Dunsmore.”* With regard to its geographical 
position it is distributed throughout England in elevated 
situations. It is not however confined to hills, for there 
are many instances where it is found on waste grounds in 
more lev-el countries and especially on the borders of very 
damp woods by the side of a little stream. In Ireland it is 
scarce. It extends throughout the Continent of Europe 
as far north as Norway and as far south as the Asturias 
in Spain. Hooker calls it Ne<phr odium Oreopteris."^^ 
The localities of this Eern are — 
Axminster ; New Park. 
Broadwinsor ; Loosdown. 
Chaffcombe ; field north of Avishayes. 
* Chard ; between the town and Avishayes. 
Chardstock ; gully near Alston on Birch-hill Common 
and edge of a wood near Beacon-hill. 
* Charmouth ; Langmoor Copse. 
Churchstaunton ; fields near the Eectory. 
Dalwood ; north of Danes-hill. 
Hawkchurch ; Stoodley’s hill. 
Eilmington ; old road to Honiton near the village. 
Monkton Wylde ; lane near Warren House. 
Northleigh ; between Eoad Pit and Balls Cottage. 
Offwell ; bank of Smallcombe Copse. 
Otterford ; very common. 
Shute ; near the eastern Lodge. 
Southleigh ; Wiscombe Wood. 
Stockland ; hedge-bank near Colmar Copse, Ham Lane, 
and lane between Kilderhayes and Penny hill. 
. Hplyme ; lane north of Woodhouse, and boggy Wood 
north-w’est of the village. 
Wambrook ; near Shagsplood. 
Way ford, near Crewkerne ; Beerchapel. 
Tarcombe; Woodend. 
* Filix mas ericeti Dunsmore Petiveri, 
