168 BRITISH FERNS, 
equal to half the leafy part of the frond in length. 
The fructification may be thus described: — The 
anterior branch of each set of veins passes beyond the 
leafy membranous wing, and looks like a stout bristle; 
the seeds are attached to every part of this bristle, 
arranged in regular, compact order along its sides, and 
one single seed, or, more properly, capsule containing 
Seeds, is placed on the very summit of the bristle, like 
a kind of crown, the membranous wing at the point 
whence this bristle starts is divided, becomes opaque, 
is converted into an involucre, and assumes a form 
intelligent appreciation of the subject under notice, 
This beautiful fern is abundant in the Atlantic 
Islands and in some parts of Ireland, but has not 
been found in Great Britain or on the Continent of 
