7 
Plate I, fig. 6, or nearly round, as the Maidenhair Spleen- 
wort, Plate II, fig. 12, or diamond-shaped, as the Wall Rue 
Spleenwort, Plate II, fig. 14, or strap-shaped, as the Ilart’s- 
tongue generally is. Sometimes they have a little lobe^or 
projection sticking out on one side, as the Prickly Pern, 
Plate I, fig. 4. There is one more distinctive mark to he 
noticed, and that is the form of the entire frond. We should 
notice whether it he triangular, lance- shaped, linear, {i.e, like 
a line) &c. Most of our Perns are mere herhs, scarcely any 
can he called hushes. The highest are rarely ten feet. Tree 
Perns are found in the Tropics and South Temperate Zone, 
while in the J^orth Temperate and Prigid they are only 
herbaceous. Their geographical distribution varies. In 
islands it is great. In Jamaica 1 to 9, Iceland 1 to 18, 
Scotland 1 to 31. On the Continent it is less. In Prance 
1 to 63, Portugal 1 to 116, Egypt 1 to 971. 
CLASSIPICATION. — Help to the Discovert 
OE Perns. 
If we discover a plant which has its buds rolled in or coiled 
together, and with dusty rust-red fruit,* it is most probably 
a Pern. When we wish to search it out, we must particu- 
larly observe where the fructification lies. If the clusters 
of fruit are on a spike separate from, but attached to the 
leaf or frond, it is one of the Tongueworts (Ophioglossacece.) 
If the clusters are in a large panicle at the ends of the fronds 
or of portions of the fronds, it is one of the Osmunds (Os- 
mundacece.) If on the back of the leaflets of a frond with 
or without a cover, it is one of the Polypods (Folypodiacece.) 
Thus we discover the three Sub-orders or tribes of Perns. 
I. Tongueworts. Ophioglossacecd, Clusters on a spike 
separate from, but attached to the frond. There is no elas- 
tic ring to the not-transparent bags of spores, neither are 
the buds of the plants rolled in (circinate.) 
II. Osmunds. Osmundacece. Clusters at the ends of the 
fronds or of portions of the frond. Bags of spores have 
frequently a lid-like ring. Buds rolled in. 
* In old plants it is sometimes black. 
