




































20 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
the Ural range, to the Altai, Dahuria, and the east coast of Siberia; 
and extends from north-western India, Kumaon, and the Sikkim Him- 
alaya, to the Mediterranean. In Africa it is found in Algeria, and in 
the Islands of Teneriffe, Madeira, and the Canaries ; while an Abys- 
sinian plant collected by Schimper (Nos. 741, 1970) and distributed 
as a variety of Athyrium Filie-femina, is probably distinct, as it has 
a creeping caudex. It is widely diffused in North America, being 
found in Kamtschatka, at Sitka and Unalaschka, at Awatschka Bay, 
on the Saskatchawan river, and in the Rocky Mountains ; in British 
Columbia; in Canada, and throughout the United States—where 
also occurs a closely allied plant, Athyrium asplenioides (of which A. 
angustum isa variety), differing in having a ereeping caudex. 
Ruprecht’s Athyrium cyclosorum from Petropaulowski, Unalaschka, 
and Kodiak, as well as from Lapland, is probably the same with our 
compound forms having short much curved sori. In South America 
moreover, occur forms which we refer to Athyrium Filix-femina— 
from Bolivia, from Cuba, from the Caraccas, and from Vera Cruz. 
The forms from these foreign habitats are various, as those are which 
are found in Britain, but the exotic variations are quite analogous to 
those which occur in this country, those corresponding to the forms 
called molle, ovatum, frondosum, laxum, and rheticum in particular, 
occurring the most frequently in the specimens we have examined. 
The different forms of the Lady Fern are easily cultivated. AN 
the larger growing varieties may be planted with success in good 
light loamy or peaty soil, which is all the better for being enriched 
by leaf-mould. They all like plenty of moisture, and for the most 
part delight in shade and shelter. Some of the smaller abnormal 
forms, are rather apt to sustain injury from too much confined 
dampness about the crowns, if kept under glass in winter; and 
these are also liable to suffer from exposure to the rigours of our 
climate in severe winters. The stronger growing normal forms are, 
on the other hand, thoroughly hardy. All the forms of Lady Fern, 
however, do well under glass, and if not kept too warm, they may 
be had in this way in a very characteristic state, and in much beauty. 
The species in its varied phases may be considered one of the most 
beautiful of the larger deciduous native Ferns. 

