TABLE OF BRITISH FERNS. 
Ferns —in Latin Filices — are flowerless plants, 
bearing seed-vessels (spore-cases) on their fronds. ‘All 
Ferns ’ says Moore,—‘ are referrible to one of three 
groups : Ophioglossacece — Polypodiacece — Marattiacece. 
Of these the Ophioglossaceas and Marattiacese are 
but small groups, while the Polypodiacese include the 
greater portion of all known Ferns. These three 
groups may each be regarded as a distinct order of 
plants, forming together the Filices, or Ferns.’ The 
Marattiacese are not found in the British Isles. We 
have therefore only to do with the two natural orders 
— Polypo diacejc or True Ferns and Ophioglossace^ 
or Adder's Tongue Ferns. 
Polypodiaceje are Ferns whose young fronds are rolled 
up in a circinate form, and whose spore-cases are girt 
with an elastic hand. The presence of this ring, in 
some form or other, nearly or completely surround- 
