358 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
3 . 
THE MOUNTAIN BLADDER FERN. 
Cystopteris montana. 
Plate 4, Fig. 3. 
NE of tlie very rarest of our rarer native 
species is the Mountain Bladder Fern, 
found only in one or two localities in 
the Highlands of Scotland. It has a creeping 
root, which finds its way underneath the moss and 
other vegetation, amongst which the charming 
little plant' grows. Its fronds are remarkably dis¬ 
tinct from those of the other species of Bladder 
Ferns which occur in this country. The stipes is 
often twice the length of the leafy portion of the 
frond. The entire length of the latter is, however, 
rarely found to be more than some eight inches. 
The frond, from the commencement of the rachis, 
has a very distinct three-branched appearance, from 
the circumstance of the lowest pair of branches— 
extending horizontally or obliquely to right and to 
left—being much larger and longer than the 
