
258 BRITISH FERNS 
given above, the Bristle Fern, is due to the peculiarity thatjthe 
spore capsules are contained in little, urn-shaped vessels projecting 
from the margins of the frond divisions, and through these urns 
a vein is carried, and protrudes like a bristle from the orifice. Its 
natural habitats here are by the sides of mountain streams, in the 
vicinity, or actually in the spray of cascades, or in rocky hollows 
where the air is constantly at saturation point and no sunshine 
ever enters. T. radicans has a very tough, travelling rootstock, 
which creeps over the rock surfaces and into their crevices, into 
which the roots proper penetrate. The fronds, which are nearly 
thrice divided, are of a deep, lucent green and translucent, but by 
no means fragile. They are quite evergreen, and last for several 
years. For the culture of this species we refer to our chapter on 
Culture, under the head of Wardian Cases, since no Fern is better 
adapted, or lends itself more admirably to case culture than this. 
Several varieties have been found. 

Fig. 317. 5. ә. Andrewsii. 
ANDREWSI (Fig. 317).—Found in Ireland ; has narrower, more 
lance-shaped fronds, with longer stalks and more widely separated 
pinne. 
DILATATUM.—A very handsome, broad-fronded form introduced 
from Ireland by Messrs. Backhouse, of York. 
PROLIFERUM.—A small-growing form, sent the writer many years 
ago by Mr. Burbidge, of Dublin, as bearing bulbil plants on the 
fronds, a la Asplenium bulbiferum. Young plants were raised from 
these, but the parent eventually refused to develop more. 
ALATUM.—Found in Ireland ; conspicuously winged stalks. 
BACKHOUSEIL.— Intermediate between dilatatum and Andrewsit. 
CrispuM.—Found Killarney by Col. A. S. Н. Lowe ; crispate and 
irregularly branched. 
Dissecrum.—Finely cut, beautiful form. 

HEN Re 







