44 
BRITISH FERNS. 
MOUNTAIN BUCKLER FERN. 
NEPHRODIUM ORE OPTER/S, 
Swartz, Smith, Hooker. 
(Plate IV. Fig. 2.) 
SYNONYMS. 
Lastrea Oreopteris , Presl, Babing- Lastrea montana , Newman, 
ton (Sweet Mountain Fern). Polypodium fragans y Linnaeus. 
This is a difficult fern to distinguish from Nephrodium 
Filix Max , especially when fully grown. Its fronds 
are lance-shaped. The pinnules dwindle at the base 
to a mere leafy excrescence close to the ground. The 
sori are placed like beads under the edges of the 
lobes, which do not turn back as in the Marsh Fern 
\{Thelypteris). Over every portion of the under surface 
lie numerous small, round, shining, bright-yellow 
glands, which give the young fronds a golden tinge, 
and when rubbed or bruised emit a pleasant resinous 
odour. The fronds make their appearance about the 
beginning of May, and before they unfold look like 
little silver balls amidst the grass. They attain a 
height of two or three feet, and sometimes even of five 
feet, according to situation. It delights in exposed 
and healthy places, and dry pastures, and is found 
more or less throughout Europe in open districts. It 
grows on Hampstead Heath, Wimbledon Common, 
and Blackheath; also at Tunbridge Wells, and is 
abundant in Scotland. A special characteristic of this 
fern is mentioned by Mr. Newman, which is worthy of 
