27 
except in seedlings and starved small specimens, is the frond 
triangular. It is egg-shaped or lance-shaped. The three 
lowest pinnae, as has been already observed, are shorter than 
the fourth, and the lower of each shorter than the one above. 
Thus if the lowest were seven inches, the second would be 
about seven inches and three quarters, the third eight inches 
and a quarter, the fourth nearly nine inches. 2. The scales 
have a dark centre with a transparent edge, as represented 
in woodcut d. This may not always appear at first. If we 
keep the plant for a few hours, we shall find it take place, 
or we shall find some on the plant having the middle of the 
scale darker than the outer part. Babington remarks, 
“ The largest scales of the full grown plant should be ex- 
amined.” 3. The leafiets are more or less drooping. They 
may sometimes be fiat, but never with their edges curled 
upward. The whole frond is arched or curved in its posi- 
tion. 4. The covers of the clusters of fruit, when examined 
under a glass, will be found to have stalked glands to their 
edges. This, as all other microscopical investigations, must 
be done carefully, or we shall ourselves break off the delicate 
glands. 
It seems very doubtful whether this plant, common in 
our woods and copses, has been alluded to by our old Her- 
balists, or even Bay. Perhaps Gerarde, when he describes 
what he calls ‘‘a branched Male Fern, with toothed pin- 
nules,”* speaks of this species. He says, “The side branches, 
the longest being the third pair from the root, were nine 
inches long, and shorter and shorter toward the top, in 
number about twenty pair.” Whether Bay alluded to this 
or the following species, is not clear, Hewman thinks to the 
latter. It is not at all likely that he passed by unnoticed 
all three of this group. In some instances, especially in dry 
spots, it is very stunted : in other cases five feet high, 
always ornamental and elegant in appearance. The Pern is 
common throughout Europe. Francis also states, “that it 
grows in North America from Pennsylvania to Virginia. 
If any person wishes to adorn a garden with this child 
of nature, it can be easily done by taking up the roots care- 
fully, planting them in loose vegetable mould in a shady 
spot, and supplying them with moisture. Newman calls 
this Fern Lophodium Multifiorum. 
* Filix mas ramosa pinnulis dentatis. 
