







214 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
Fructification on the back of the fertile fronds and occupying 
nearly the whole under surface. Sori indusiate, linear, extending 
on each side the costa the whole length of the narrow pinne or 
segments, over which they soon become confluent; the receptacles 
continuous, longitudinal. Indusium a narrow linear membrane 
attached along the exterior side of the receptacle, within the margin 
of the frond, but sometimes from the excessive contraction of the 
pinnz almost marginal. Spore-cases nearly globose. Spores roundish 
oblong or ovate, slightly angular and punctate. 
Duration. The caudex is perennial and the plant evergreen; 
the old fronds continuing quite fresh through the winter, and the 
young ones springing up about May as well as later in the year. 
The Hard Fern is a very elegant and distinct-looking plant, and 
on that account, no less than for its evergreen character, it deserves 
to be more frequently cultivated. Its long narrow pectinately 
divided fronds, the barren and fertile growing separate, the former 
spreading and the latter erect, afford easy marks of recognition, 
among the indigenous species. 
The Blechnum is one of our common Ferns, distributed all over 
the United Kingdom, from the Northern and Western Isles to 
the south of England, and from the east eoast of England to the 
west of Ireland; occurring also in the Channel Isles. It ranges 
from the coast-level to an elevation above the sea of nearly 3000 
feet in Cumberland, and of 4000 feet in the Highlands of Scotland. 
^ Mr. Watson remarks that taking horizontal and vertical range into 
account, this is probably the most widely-distributed of all our Ferns. 
It grows in rough heathy and stony places, or in woods or shady 
hedge bottoms, preferring moisture, and is one of the few Ferns 
which thrive as well in exposed situations as in shade. Its distribution 
is general, as the following summary will show :— 
Peninsula.—Cornwall: Penryn, G. Dawson. Devonshire: Mar- 
wood, Rev. F. Mules ; Barnstaple, H. F. Dempster. Somersetshire. 
Channel.—Hampshire. Isle of Wight. Dorsetshire. Wiltshire. 
Sussex. 

