856 
THE FERN PAEADISE. 
2 . 
THE ALPINE BLADDER FERN. 
Gystojpteris regia. 
Plate 4, Fig. 2. 
IS is an exceedingly rare species of the 
British Ferns. Similar in some respects 
to the Brittle Bladder Fern, it differs 
from the latter chiefly in length, being ordinarily 
smaller, seldom growing to a height of more than 
ten inches; but sometimes becoming a little 
taller. It has a short brittle stem, somewhat 
scaly at the part nearest the ground. In this 
species the branches of the frond, although similar 
to those of Fragilis , are placed more directly 
opposite each other. The stipes is slightly 
shorter than in Fragilis: the frond-branches 
are also slightly shorter, corresponding with the 
smaller size of the plant, and instead of being 
ordinarily lance-shaped, the general form of the 
branches may be called either bluntish lance-shaped, 
or egg-shaped. In the same way the . leaflets on 
the branches are also somewhat egg-shaped; but 
