IO 
BRITISH FERNS , 
But the study of this limited portion of the great 
family, will, it is hoped, kindle in him a desire to 
know more of this great family, which, though de¬ 
prived of the beauty and adornment of flowers, have 
nevertheless attractions and graces of their own, and, 
with all other created things, the charm of occupying 
a necessary place in the great order of creation. 
ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF 
BRITISH FERNS. 
POL YPODIA CEPE. 
The fronds are rolled up in a circinate manner 
while young, the spore-cases have an elastic ring, 
which bursts by an irregular transverse cleft. 
I. POLYPODIACEiE. 
Sori round .' without an indusium. 
1. Polypodium.— The sori dorsal, circular, and 
exposed. 
2. ALLOSORUS.— Sori dorsal, roundish, and be¬ 
coming confluent beneath the margins of the frond. 
II. GYMNOGRAMME.E. 
Sori linear , without an indusium. 
3. Gymnogramma. —Sori dorsal, linear, forked, 
naked. 
