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Digitized by the Internet Archive , in 2017 with funding from Wellcome Library

https://archive.org/details/b28759084

FILICES

H I S

OF THE

BRITISH PROPER FERNS!

With PLAIN and ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS,

AND

NEW FIGURES of all the SPECIES and VARIETIES,

Taken from an immediate and careful Infpeftion of the Plants in their Natural State, and engraved on Thirty-One Copper-Plates ; with the particular Places noted where each Species was lately gathered, and are at this Time growing in the North of England, or on the Mountains of Wales.

BRITANNIG.E ;

A N

TORY

By JAMES BOLTON, of HALIFAX,

PRINTED FOR JOHN BINNS, LEEDS-,

AND SOLD BY B. WHITE AND SON, J. JOHNSON, AND J. WALLIS, LONDON 5 J. AND J. MERRILL, CAMBRIDGE; J. FLETCHER, OXFORD; AND THE BOOKSELLERS A1 EDINBURGH.

[ Price in Boards 13s. or Coloured, il. 7s. ]

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DUCTION

rr^HE author of this little effay fcarcely knows what ape- A logy to make for prefuming to appear before the pub- lick in a fcience which has afforded employment for the pens of fo many learned men, and able naturalifls.

\Vhat he has here attem.pted is to bring together and illuf- trate the Britifh proper Ferns ; no attempt of the kind having ever before appeared in our own, or any other language. The greateft part of them have indeed been figured and de- feribed, but many of thofe figures are too inaccurate to give a clear and diftinS idea of the plant, and being fcattered through the volumes of many authors, will fubjeft to a very great expence, thofe who are defirous to inform themfelves of a tribe of plants fo fingular and beautiful as the Britifli proper Ferns muft be allowed to be.

It is the intention of the author in this undertaking; to g:ive a clear and diftin6l idea of every fpecies in its various liages of gro^rth, and under the various accidents it is liable to, as far as is neceiTary for enabling the ftudent to diferiminate each with eafe and certainty ; to exhibit them at one view, and at a fmall expence. And if it appears that he has ac- quicted himfelf well in thefe particulars, he willies not for a more elimble olea.

O X.

a 2,

IV

I N T R O.D U C T I o N.

Many who v/ifh to be informed of the indigenous plants of our country have neither leifure nor inclination to pu. fae the fcience of Botany in its more extenfive track, to our- chafe and perufe the numerous volumes, and to acquire an underftanding of the more numerous terms now neceffary to be read and underftood, much lefs to undergo the ex- pence and bodily fatigue which muft be fuftained before we acquire an oiiginal, perfonal knowledge of the otyefts in view, without which we never arrive at the fummit of the arduous and pleafing purfuit.

To maice tne little that I have written as plain as pofTible to the appienenfion of every one, I have avoided as much as I could, the ufe of the more difficult botanic terms.

In defcribing the ferns, inftead of the latin terms, frons^ pinna, pinniila, &c. I make ufe of the more familiar ones, frjl leaves, Jccond leaves, third aaves, and lobes *, and, to render my meaning ftill plainer, I have illuflrated it with figures, fee Table i, where

Fig. I is a iirft leaf complete, aaaaa the rib*.

Fig. a a fecond leaf cut off at b.

Fig. 3 a third leaf cut off at c.

Fig. 4 the lobes.

The fruclifications, which are generally placed on the back- ol tne iobes, I nave called J'eed^veJfels, as the moll plain and

expreffive

f ■'

iS •

r

./•

I N T R O' D U C T I O N.

V

cxpreflive name I could think of, being more proper than that of Jlozcers ; as the parts which conftitute the flowers of a fern are much too minute for the infpedlion of the naked eye.

In plate I ft, d, c, f, I have given a borrowed figure of a fingle globe, or feparate feed-veffeh Thefe are placed in great numbers on the under fide of the lobes, and every af- femblage of them covered with a thin tranfparent film, at firft of a pale ^rhiti^n colour, and as it advances in growth of a brovvoiifli hue ; before the feeds are ripe it burfls open, and difcovers the little globes, which are afterwards greatly en- creafed in magniLude, miuch extending laterally and enlarg- ing the fpace occupied by the affemblage while wrapped up in its primary cover. The globes, or feparate feed-veflels, are of a figure truly fpherical, and are attached to the furface of the leaf by a fhort footfialk, g. They are furrounded with an articulate chain, or elaftic ring, e, d, which, when the feeds are ripe, breaks at h, tears open the fliell i in a vertical direclion, difcharges the feeds, and, as the chain further con- trafts itfelf, throws open the tv/o valves f, in an horizontal di- rection, by which the fpace of the affemblage is again confi- derably enlarged, and hence it is that fome of the polipodia, and many of the afplenia, become covered with feed-veffels in the laft ftages of their growth, and thereby become acrofticha according to the prefent mode of arrangemient.

It

VI

INTRODUCTION.

It is from the arrangement or difpofition of tliefe feed-vcffels that the charafters of the genera in the proper ferns are at this time eftabli fired.

In the genus Ophwglojjam^ the feed-veffels are placed in two diftinfl: lines, one on each fide of the filament or tongue, giv- ing it the appearance of a flatted fpike.

In Ofmiinda^ fome fpecies produce their feed-veflels in bunches of fliort fpikes at the termination of the fertile leaf, as in Ofmund royal, and Moon wort ; in others, they are arranged in lines along the back of the lobes, as in Curled Stone Fern, and Rough Spleen wort.

In Acrofiichmn^ the leed-veflels are difperfed upon and cover the whole under fide of the lobes.

In PolipGclium^ the feed-veflels are difpofed in circular fpots on the under fide of the lobes.

In Ajpknimn they are placed in right lines, generally run- ning in an oblique direftion on the fupine diflc of the leaves or lobes.

In Fteris^ the feed-veflels are placed in lines along the under margins of the lobes, wdaich are gently rolled backwards.

In Adiant'um^ the feed-veflels are difpofed in fliort lines, or oval fpots, near the extremities of the lobes, which are often terminated by their film.y expanfions that are bent back and cover them.

In

INTRODUCTION,

Vll

In Trichomanes the feed-veffel is of a globular figure, fingle, enclofed in its own proper cover, folitary, fupported on its own filament or footftalk, which arifes from the membranaceous verge of the rib at the origin of the fecond leaves.

This method of arrangement, though the beft that has yet been adopted, is in fevcral inftances vague and defective.

In many fpecies of the genus Afplenium, whofe charafter- iflic is to have the feed-veffels arranged in diftinfl: lines, they, when arrived at rciaturity, encreafe in breadth fo as to unite at their extremities and cover the wliole under fide of the lobes; this is frequently the cafe in Afplenium ceterach, Afple- nium ruta-muraria, Afplenium adiantum nigrum, &c. in the months of September and Oftober.

In feveral of the Polipodia, we obferve the fame confluency or union in the older flages of the plants ; fuch for inftance as Polipodium fragile, Polipodium thelypteris, and Polipodium fontanum.

In the genus Acroftichum, whofe primary charadler is to have the under fide of the lobes quite covered with feed-vef- fels, thefe feed-veffels are difpofed in diflindt round dots on the back of the lobes in Acroftichum ilvenfe ; in Acroftichum feptentrionale they are placed, while immature, in fliort lines. The firft of thefe therefore, while young, is a Polipodium, the laft an Afplenium.

The

viil I'N T R O D U C T I O N.

The Afplenium ceterach, Afplenium mta-inuraria, Afple- Ilium adiantum nigrum, Polipodium fragile, Polipodium thelypteris, and Polipodium fontanum, in the lafl: ftages of their crrowth, become Acrofticha.

In Ofmunda, whofe charafter is to have the feed-veiTels difpofed in bunches of fpikes at the extremities of the rib of the fertile leaves, we find the Ofmunda fpicant, whofe feed- veffels are difpofed in lines along the under fide of the lobes, of the fertile leaves ; and the Ofmunda crifpa, in which they are placed in lines under the verges of the lobes, which are gently rolled back upon them as in the Pteris aquilina.

It muft offend the tafie of the judicious reader to find the charaReriftics of the Genera fixed on foundations fo unfteady, when he finds plants very diifimilar in their appearance unit- ed ; as alfo when he fees a feparation take place between Of- munda lunaria and Ophiogloffum vulgatum, between Acrof- tichum feptentrionale and Afplenium ruta-mmraria.

In a family of plants fo nearly approaching in general ha- bit, -and whofe charafterifiic notes are in nature too minute for cur infpefiion, there is no way of acquiring a perfeft know- ledge of the fpecies, and varieties, but by making careful and repeated obfervations upon the plants themfelves, in the na- tural places of their growth.

In

INTRODUCTION.

IX

In moft of the Britifh proper Ferns the feedlipxg plants re- quire a flicceffion of feafons before they produce their f.;uSif - cation. The firfh year that a feed vegetates, it produces a finge leaf only, which feldom attains to more than one inch in height, is thin, femi-tranfparent, and moPc commonly entire. The fecond year two or three are produced, one larger than the other. The third year four or five are produced ; and the fourth year, more in number, proportionable to the richnefs and propriety of foil and fituation.

Through this progrefs of growth, the young plants appear in various drapes according to die various matter and place in which they grow. When the feeds take root in moid and fertile foils, in lhaded fituations, on mofly dripping rocks, or near currents or rills of fpring water, they produce leaves of a thin, light, femi-tranfparent fubilance. When on dry rocks, and in barren foils, where they are more expofed to the air and the fun, the leaves are few in number, ftiort, firm, and apaque. The former plants produce larger and more numerous leaves ; but the latter produce feeds in fewer years fi'om the firfi fpiinging up : The firfi: are apt to produce leaves monftrous in fiiape or fize ; the laft generally retain their own proper figure.

The difference of fize, in confequence cf foil and fituation, is as remarkable in Ferns as in any other tribe of plants. We ffequently fee leaves ofPolipodium filix -mas, and Poiipodium

b fxiix-

I N- T Pv O D U C T I O N,

filix-femina, four or five feet in length, yet I have feen per- feft leaves in fruftification not more than nine inches high in the former, and little more than fix in the latter fpecies. Hence, in my defcriptions, when I fay the leaves are from one to four feet in height, from four to twelve inches, &c. I wmuld be underftood to mean, that the leaves in both cafeS' are grown to as great a degree of perfeftion as the fituation and foil will admit of, that the roots are of a fufficient age,- and that the plants of the fmaller as well as larger fize are in complete fruftilication*

In moift and rich foils, the Polipodium crifcatum has an upright rib, and attains the height of three or four feet ; the firft pair of fecond leaves are Ihorter than thofe next above them ; the leaf, for the moft part of its length is triply pin- nated,^or, in our own v/ay of defcribing, divided into fecond leaves, third leaves, and lobes. Upon dry rocks and banks, the plant is ten or twelve inches high, the rib curves back- wards from the infertion of the firfh pair of the fecond leaves, which are by much the largeft, and only this firft or loweft pair are triply divided.

For want of paying proper attention to thefe accidental cir- cumftances, many imaginary fpecies have been admitted in the lifts of Britifli ferns. A defire to multiply the fpecies of plants feems to have prevailed amongft the Botanifis of the laft age. The works ofTournefort, Vaillant, Micheli, Pluke-

net.

i'jy

INTRODUCTION.

XI

net, and others, abound with imaginary fpecies ; moft of w'hich, however, by the more accurate obfervations of the Bo- tanifts of the prefent age, are again reduced to their originals.

For the fatisfaftion of thofe who clefire further information, I have fip'ured feveral varieties in Tab, 2.

o

In Ophioglofium vulgatum there is a variety which pro- duces feveral feed-fpikes as in Tab, 2. Fig, 1,

In Afplenium trichomaiies there is a variety, having the leaves divided into feveral lobes, which are crenated on the extremities m elegant and beautiful mianner. Tab, 2, Fig, 2.

In very moifl and rich fituations, the leaves of Afplenium viride fometimes become proliferous, throwing out other leaves from their fides. Tab, 2, Fig, 3. In this ftate it has been confidered as a fpecies, Sp, PI, 1341, where it is called Afplenium trichomanes-ramofum.

There is a variety of Afplenium marinum, wherein the lobes are divided and fubdivided, as in Tab, 2, Fig, 4. This has been named Adiantum trapeziforme.

The Polipodium cambricum, Tab, 2, Fig, 5. a, is now knowm to be a variety of Polipodium vulgare. There i,s-alfo another variety of the famse plant lately difcovered b}^^y efteemed friend Mr. Alexander, of Halifax, in a wood near Bingley, Tab, 2, Fig, 5. b.

There is a tall Gender variety of Polipodium fragile, which has been taken notice of, and termed Polipodium rheticum ; fee Tab, 2. Fig, 6.

• •

INTRODUCTION.

XU

There is a variety of Trichomanes tunbrigenfe, which grows in little caverns under moift rocks where the fun is ex- cluded, and where the water, dripping from the points of the leaves, enlarges them greatly ; in this hate the plant has been taken notice of, and called Trichomanes pyxidiferum ; fee Tab. 2. Fig. 7.

The varieties of x\fplenium fcolopendrium are many, and very well known.

Afplenium adiantum nigrum, Polipodium aculeatum, and fome others are likewife fubjedl to varieties, fome of vrhich I have figured on their refpehtive plates.

Some of the Britifii Ferns have formerlv been in g^reat efteem on account of their fuppofed vulnerary and pedloral qulilities, but like many other valuable home medicines, they are difregarded in the prefent praSice.

The ufe of Fern afiies in the making of glafs, boiling'^!|lbap, dying, &c. is very well known, and needs not here be infift- ed on.

Fern, by reafon of its abounding in falts, is certainly an excellent manure for land, if cut down while green, mixed with a third part of cows dung, and laid in large heaps to rot.

Fern, being cut down, dried, and ufed as litter in the plant- ing of potatoes, has fometimes been known to produce an extraordinary crop ; whether it \rould always have the fame effecl deferves a fair trial.

Manv

Mill

Many of the Ferns might with great propriety be intro- duced into our botanic gardens ; not merely with a view' to increafe the number of plants in thefe gardens, but alfo on account of the agreeable contrafl: they produce when inter- fperfed amongft plants of all the other claffes, of their own beautiful fingularity, and of the great eafe with whicii they are procured and preferved.

In the hot-houfe or ftove they become evergreens, and their beauty is greatly improved in refpeft to colour and delicacy. When planted in pots, and placed amongft other plants, their foft, feathery, filken clumps produce an efteft which muft be pleafmg to every one.

The fpecies moft proper for introducing as rare plants into the hot-houfe are, Ofmunda crifpa, Acroftichum feptentrio- nale, and Acroftichum ilvenfe, Afplenium viride, Afplenium mariftum, and Afplenium lanceolatum, a variety of the laft ; Polipodium lonchitis, Polipodium fontanum, Polipodium fra- grans, Polipodium rheticum, Polipodium dryopteris, Polipo- dium phegopteris, Polipodium thelypteris, and Polipodium fragile ; Adiantum capillus veneris ; and Trichomanes tun- brigenfe.

Of Ferns lefs rare, of a proper fize to be introduced for the fake of number and variety, OphiogloiTum vulgatum, Of- munda lunaria, Ofmunda fpicant, and Afplenium ceterach,

c

XIV

INTRODUCTION.

Afpleniiim trichomanes, Afplenium mta-muraria, Afplenium adiaritum nigrum, and Polipodium vulgare widi its varieties.

Thofe which are proper for planting on dry rocks, whether natural or artificial, are Afplenium adiantum-nigrum, Afple- nium marinum, and Afplenium ruta-muraria ; Polipodium fragile, and Acroftichum feptentrionale : thefe naturally grow on dry and barren rocks. And can any thing be more beau- tiful than the firm texture, the deep gloflv green, the elegant divifions and fub“divifions of the firft, fecond, third, and fifth of thefe, when contrafted with the foft, filken, feathery appear- ance of the fourth ?

On moift overfliadowed and dripping rocks we find Acrof- tichum ilvenfe, Afplenium trichomanes, Afplenium viride, Polipodium lonchitis, Polipodium fontanum, Polipodium acu- leatum, Adiantum capillus-veneris, and Trichomanes tun- brigenfe.

In dark moift and fiiady places, under trees to enrich the ground, Polipodium phegopteris, Polipodium dryopteris, and Afplenium fcolopendrium with its varieties.

In lines, or little clumps along the margins of grafs plats, \v^alks, or borders, may be planted Ophiogloflum vulgatum, and Ofmunda limaria.

The roots of the larger kinds of Ferns* are firm, well fixed in the ground, and very durable ; they continue in the places

where

INTRODUCTION.

XV

where they have once been planted, and do not fend out fuckers or runners to difturb the neighbouring plants, or to occupy more fpace of ground than is allotted them ; hence they are very proper for planting round the verges of artifi- cial bogs or filh-ponds, their roots forming a lading barrier between the wet and the dry. The fpecies moft proper for this purpofe are Ofmunda regalis, Polipodium fidix-mas, Po- lipodium filix-femina, Polipodium thelypteris, and Polipo- dium cri (latum.

The feeds of Ferns, though very numerous, are extremely fmall, and never, or very rarely, take root in cultivated ground : they will not therefore render the garden lefs fertile, or incommaode the gardener by encreafmg the number of weeds.

The leaves of the larger Ferns, if cut down at the time of their full growth, and properly dried, make a thatch much more durable than that of any kind of ftraw ; and, by their lightnefs and natural warmth, may be ufed as the beft litter for fecuring tender feedlings from the effefts of froft.

The drawing and etching of the figures are performvcd wholely by my own hands, from a clofe and careful infpec- tlon of the plants. The employing an engraver would have been attended with a confiderable and certain expence ; and as the reimburfement was very uncertain, I chofe to under- take it myfelf, though I had never before pradlifed the art of

etching,

XVI

INTRODUCTIO N.

etching, that I might hazard only the lofs of fo much of my own time. The truth of drawing in all the figures may be relied on, and the defcriptions are faithful. For the execu- tion of the plates in the engraving part, and for the ftile in writing, I can make no other apology than that of throwing myfelf on the humanity of my friends and the publick.

Halifax, Augiijl i6//z, 1785..

The books I have referred to are few, and fuch only as may be fuppofed to be in che pofieffion of every Englifli Botanift, namely,

Lin. Sp. Pi. Caroli Linnsi Species Plantarum, 2 tom. 8vo. Holm. 1762. Flo. Scot. Flora Scotica by the Rev.Mr Lightfoot, 2 v. 8vo. London, 1777. Flo. Ang. Gul Hudfoni, Flora Angelica, 2 tom. 8vo. London, 1778. Ger. Em. Gerard’s Herbal, enlarged by Johnfon, Folio, London 1633. Park. Parkinfon’s Herbal, or Theatre of Plants, Folio, London, 1640.

The Other Britifh Ferns, viz. the Equifetum, Pilularia and Ifoetes, with new figures and defcriptions, may fhortly appear to complete the hiftory of Britifh Ferns, if the prefent part be well received.

FILICES

D

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

OPHIOGLOSSUM vulgatum,

Lin. Gen. Plan. 1171. Spec. Plan. 1518. Ray Syn. 128. Flo. Scot. 651. J'/fl. 449- G«r. £»/. 404. ParZ>. 506.

LAB. III.

adders tongue.

rook

t confifts wholly of fibres, often furniflied with a bulb-like hybernaculum, which contains a fucceeding plant in embrio.

The proper ftalk is green, flattlfli, from two to four inches high, fupporting one leaf at the top ; the leaf is tongue- fliaped, two inches long, thick, gloffy, fucculent, and of a firm fubftance, varying in colour from a iigh-t to a dark green.

Seed veffels arranged in two rows, and forming a jointed fpike, the rows placed opp ofite ; when ripe, they burft tranfverfely, and difcharge fmall feeds ; the fpike is fupported on a ftalk two or three incn^s ig , arifing from the point where the tongue-ftiaped leaf is united to the firft ftalk, by the bottom of which leaf the fpike ftalk is partly furrounded and

embraced.

V A R I E T I E S,

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F I L I C E S

B R I T A N N I C yE.

3

VARIETIES.

Adders tons-iie is fometimes found with a foike ilalk divided at the

O i

top, each diviiion fupporting a feparate fpike, fie Gcr. Em. 405 ; and Tah. 2. E/>. I. Sometimes the leaves are a little naflied, or lobed, on one

O O''

or both hides ; and fometimes have fmall appendages on one or both fides.

Ophioglofium Vulgatum grows in cold meadows and paflures, where the ground is moifl, in the neighbourhood of Halifax ; particularly in a meadow adjoining to Mytham-Bridge, a mile from Halifax, . in the way to Wakefield.

The feedfpikes are in perfection about the beginning of June.

O S M U N D A

D 2

it

F I L I C

BRITANNIC jE.

S M U N D A. Lin. Gen. Plan. wji.

OSMUNDA

Lunaria. Lin. Sj>. PL 1519- Syn. 128. Flo. Scoi.

C2. Flo. Ang. Ger. Em. J,os. Park, soj-

r A B.

M O O N W O R T.

r"T^HE root Is compofed of fibres adhering to the bottom of the ftem, J. and to the bulb-like embrio of a future plant.

The leaf ftalk is two or three inches high, firm, folid, and fometimes a little flattifir ; it fupports one pinnated leaf, compofed of eight or nine pairs of kidney-ftiaped lobes, ranged fo clofe on the nerve as to le over each other in an imbricated order, the loweft pair largeft, decreasing gra- dually upwards, and a fingle one, the fmalleft, terminating t. e nerve

at top.

Seed veffels fupported on a ftalk two or three inches high, grovving from, the top of the leaf ftalk at the infertion of the leaf; it is divided into e- veral branches near the top, to which branches the feed veffels are ai xe

in

5

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC iE.

5

in feveral rows, in imitation of fpikes, the whole forming a handfome bunch pendent on one £de, at iirfi: of a very pale greenidi white, brown when ripe ; and the feeds, when difcharged, appear as if covered with a brown dufi.

There is a variety with compound or branched leaves, Ger, Em, po6. fg. 3.

Ofmunda Lunaria grows amongll grafs in cold meadows and paftures.

In pahures about Cold Edge, in Mixenden ; in a fmall croft clofe by the houfe at Ball-Green, Sowerby ; in the fields near Holy-Green, Northowram ; and fome other places in the neighbourhood of Halifax*

The plant is in its greatelb perfediion the iirfl: or fecond week in July.

On the ninth day of June i'785, I gathered on the top of an high bank of paiture ground, belonging to ShibdeU' Hall, near Halifax, a variety of Ofmunda Lunaria, with leaves fhaped like a lady’s fan when fully expanded, divided by narrow feclions running almoPc down to the bafe into four or Eve lobes, which are deeply crenated.at their extremities. .

O S M U N D A

6

F I L I C E -S

B Pv I T A N N I .C iE.

O S M U N D A regalis.

hin. Sp. PL 1551. Flo. Scot. 653. Flo. Ang. 449. Park. 1038.

Ger. Ejn. 1 1 3 1 .

TAB. V.

OSMUND HOYAL.

The root is large, thick, hard, and woody, firmly fixed in the tough mire by its numerous long firingy fibres, and is olofely covered b^^ feveral folds of tough brown fcales.

The firPc leaves are from two to four feet high, of an elegant longifh oval fhape ; the rib fmooth and glofiy, having an hollow furrow on the upper fide, round or gibbous on the under fide, and naked a good way from the root.

Second leaves from fix to ten pairsj the third or fourth pair from the root longeft, thence to the top fliortening by a fudden gradation ; they are placed at an acute angle with the rib of the firfl leaf.

Lobes from five to ten pairs, tongue-fliaped, irregularly lobed at their bottoms j the firfl pairs for half their number of equal length, thence to

the

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

7

the top gradually diminiihing, where they are terminated by a bro^d difl;in(51: lobe otten having one or more appendages at its bafe ; thefe are the barren leaves, fee fig, 2. where one of the fecond leaves is reprefented of its na- tural fize.

Seed veiTels, produced in large bunches at the fummit of the fertile iirfl; leaves ; thefe leaves grow from the central part of the root, and refemble the barren hrft leaves till the fourth or fifth pair of fecond leaves, above which the rib terminates in a large pendent divided and fubdivided bunch of fliort cylindrical fpihes of feed vcfTels^; at firfl: green, when ripe of a brown colour, and after the feeds are difcllarged appear as if covered with dulf.

The whole plant is of a bright frefh green, and very elegant.

Oimund Royal grows in bogs and clay grounds ; in a little bog, in a held under Hadderfhelf-Scout, in Sowerby ; in a field near Mixenden Mill, and fome other places in the parifh of Halifax,

O S M U N D A

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC

O S M U N D A fpicant.

hln. Sp. PL 1522. Ray Sy7t. 118. Flo, Scot, 654. Flo, Aiig, 450.

Ger. Fin, 1140. Park, 1042.

r A B, VI.

ROUGH SPLEENV^ORT.

root is of an irregular figure, hard and firm, covered with black fcales, and furnifiied with many black fibres ; when old they become large by reafon of the flumps of many decayed leaves which abide upon them.

The barren

leaves which rife

from

the

circumferent part of

tne root are

fimply pinnate, lance-fhaped, terminating in a point both below^and above, from five to twelve inches high ; the rib brown and gloffy near the root, green above ; whole leaf of a bright green colour.

Lobes of the barren leaves, from fifteen to thirty, lance-fiiaped, opponte or alternate, curved gently upwards, parallel, firfl pairs very fhort, con- fiuent, and decurrent at their bafe, gradually lengthening to the middle, and thence growing fb.orter to the top, where they are narrow, clofe, and diftiocl.

Fertile

BRITAN N I C

9

F I L I C E S

Ecri'ile leaves longer than the barren, like them fimply pinnate, ana of the fame general iEape ; Bern red, brown,, and gloffy.

Lobes on the fertile leaves from fifteen to thirty, longed in the mid lie, gradually lliorter to the bottom and top of the fertile leaf, of a narrow linear Inape, parallel, curving much backwards, of a dark gloffy green above.

Seed veiTels difpofed in lines along the edges of the fertile lobes, the lines of equal breadth from one end to the other, at firft narrow and of a pale green, afterwards brown, and, when the feeds are difeharged, encreafing io as to cover the whole dilk of the lobe, except the middle nerve.

The fertile leaves decay foon after the difeharge of the feed ; the bar- ren leaves in warm places continue green mod part of the winter ; both are renewed in the fpring.

Grows about old walls, rocks and rivulets, in v/oods, by road deles, and on moors ; in Birks wood, near Halifax, abundantly.

Scopoli makes this plant a Struthiopteris, yee Flora Carniolica^ Ed, Se-- -cii7ida,^ Tdori, 2, Fag, 288, No. 1258,

E

10

F I L I C E

B R I T A N N I C .E.

S

O S M U N D A crifpa.

Lin. Sp. PI. IS

o o

E.ay Syn. 126. Flo. Scot. 655

Flo. Ang. 450,

TAB. VIL

CURLED STONE FERN.,

root confifts of a multitude of flender fibres, muck entangled with one another, and of a pale brown colour.

Barren firft leaves from three to nine inches high, approaching m the general figure to an irregular oval j rib waved and green.

Second leaves fame general fliape with the firft, fix or eight pairs placed: alternately, diminifliing from firft to laft ; rib waved.

Third leaves lhaped like the firft and fecond, four or five pairs placed| alternate.

Lobes of the barren leaves two or three pairs, dented at the extremity with one or two dents, fo that the lobes themfelves aie again lobed, the loweft pair generally with three, the next pairs with two, and the ter- minal with three or four of thefe lefier lobes ; whole leaf a bright green.

Fertile

F I 'L 1 C E S B E. I T A N N I C

1 1

Fertile firfl leaves taller thaia tlie barren, of the fame general figure, and of a darker green ; fecond leaves four or five pairs placed alternatelp, diminiiliing to the top, and terminating in a fingle lobe.

Third leaves confifcing of two or three pairs of lobes with fingle ones interfperfed.

r

th

Lobes finiple, oblong, one third of an inch in length, rolled back at the edses, and of a thick iirm fubfiance.

Seed vefiels placed in lines on the under margin of the fertile lobes, at firfi cl a whitifh colour, when ripe of a yellow brov/n, and, after the dif- charge of the feeds, encreafing in breadth fo as to cover the vidiole difk of the lobe, except the middle nerve.

Ofmunda Crifpa grows on Ingleborough-Hill, Yorkfiiire; on Homble- ton-Hill, near Burnley ; under the great rocks at Clibberfliaw-Dean, near Todmorden, Mr. TVood^ in Knotty-Lane, near Saddleworth-Ray, Lan- cafhire ; but mofl: abundantly on Snowdon, where I gathered the fpecimen which is reprefented on theplate in Augull A.D. 1784.

A C P. O S T I C H U M.

F I L I C E S

I 2

BRITANNIC^:,.

A C R O S T I C H U M.,

Lin. Gen. Plan. 1173-

ACROSTICHUM feptentrionale.

Spec. Plan. 1524. Ray Syn. 120. Flo. Scot. 656. Flo. Ang. 450^

Ger.Em. 1561. Park. 1045.

FAB. VIII.

FORKED MAIDEN HAIR.

root confiils of a number of fine, flender, brown fibres, con- ne6led to a final 1 head.

The leaves from two to five inches high, linear and flender for more than half their length ; above, they divide fometimes into two, fometimes into three or four lobes.

The lobes are about an inch in length, lance-fhaped, one fixth of an inch in breadth, and veined lengthv/ays ; fometimes thefe lobes are intire, but often irregularly cut in on the edges, and forming little acute append- ages on the fides, which are curved outwards.

Seed vefTels lirfl appear in fmall indiflincf lines or dots on the back of the lobes, afterv/ards they flov/ together, and when the veiiels burft, and the

feeds.

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC iE.

I

feeds are difchareed, cover the whole diik of the lobe with a thick clofe brown nap, which is the diflinguifliing charaderiftic of the Genus Acrof- tichum, as at prefent eilablifhed.

Forked Maiden Hair. Grows on Ingleborough-Hili ; Afr. Tojield. Flo. Ang. 451.

The fpecimens figured, I gathered in a garden from roots that had been brought from the King’s Park, near Edinburgh, in Scotland \ it grows drere out of the clifts of the rocks about Arthurs Seat. Mr. Lightfoot.

ACROSTICHUM

CO

4 F I L I C E S BRITANNIC^.

A C R O S T I C H U M Ilvenfe.

Spec. PL 1528. Ray Syn. 118. Flo. Ang. 451.

r A B. IX.

HAIRY A C Pv O S T I C H U M. roots are fmallj and furniflied with a fev/ black hard fibres.

Fir Ft leaves from three to five inehes long ; the rib hairy, deflitute of leaves almoFc half its length from the root ; general fhape of the leaf taper- ing from the bafe to the point.

Second leaves from feven to fifteen pairs, lowefl pairs largeft and op- ponte, thence to the top becoming gradually lefs and alternate, and, near the fammit, confluent at their bafe.

Lobes five or fix of an oblong figure with feveral dents on the edges, firft pair largeft, thence decreafing to the point, v/liere one or two pairs become confluent, united almoft their whole length ; all of them broadeft at the bafe, where they art confluent and decurrent.

Seed

F I L I C E S B I T A N N I C Ei. 15

Seed veirds idrfl; appear in round dots difperfed on tlie back of tke lobes, which are covered with brown hairs ; after the feed velTels are biirft, and the feeds difeharged, the whole under lide of the lobe appears covered with an hairy roughnefs, of a brown colour. See T^ah. 9, whef'e Fig, i is a pi?i7itda 07- hhe,, a7id Fig. 2, a pi7ma or fecoiid leaf 7i7ag77ified,^ to foew the feed vefels a7id hairs.

Hairy Acroftichurn was firfl: found to grow near the top of Sno’wdon, the highed: mountain in Wales, by Dr. Lliwyd, who difeovered it growing horizontally from the chinks of the rocks on Clogwjfi y Garnedh.

Dr, Richardfon found it on Clogwy7i y Gartiedh^ near the top, on the hde facing the north-weft, directly above the lower lake. Mr. Fludfon faw it in the fame place. My figure was taken from a fine fpecimen gathered there, and now in the ponefiion of a noble naturalifi.

PTE R IS.

i6

F I L I C E

BRITAN N I C FI.

S

P T ■ E R I S.

Fin. Gen. Plan. 1174.

PTERIS aqiiilina. Sp. Plcrn. 1533. Ray Syn. 124. Flo. Scot. ‘656= Flo. Ang. 451. Ger. E7n. 1128. Paf'k. 1037.

r A B. X,

B B. A K E S.

HE rootj from the bottom of the ftem, ftrikes down into the ground perpendicularly for three or four inches ; afterwards is curved, and creeps horizontally in the ground, is there branched, hard, woody, and as thick as the little finger, covered v/ith a black bark, .and fibrous.

Firfl: leaves from one to three feet in height ; fiem or rib fmooth, hard, of a pale green colour, and glofiy ; defcitute of leaves for half its length from the root ; general figure of the firfi; leaves triangular.

Second leaves eight or ten pairs, placed oppofite ; their general fiiape triangular, and diminifhing from the lowefc to the highefl.

Third

F I L I C E

BRITAN N I C M.

1 6

S

P T E P. I S.

Lin. Gen, P.lan. 1174.

PTERIS aqiiilina. Sp. Flcm. 1533. P~ay Syn. 124. Flo. Scot. ‘656. Flo. Ang. 451. Ger. Em. 1128. Pa?'li. 1037.

FAB. X,

B Pv A K E S.

root, from the bottom of the Item, ilrikes down into the mound

R ^ O

perpendicularly for three or four inches; afterwards is curved, and creeps horizontally in the ground, is there branched, hard, woody, and as thick as the little finger, covered v/ith a black bark, .and fibrous.

Firfl: leaves from one to three feet in height ; fiem or rib frnooth, hard, of a pale green colour, and gloffy ; defdtute of leaves for half its length from the root ; general figure of the firfi; leaves triangular.

Second leaves eight or ten pairs, placed oppofite ; their general fiiape triangular, and diminifhing from the lowefc to the highefi.

Third

IC

B R 1 T A N N -I C JE.

P I L I C E S

^7

Third leaves eight or ten pairs, placed oppodtCj and diminifliing from the 1 lowed: to the higrhefl;.

O

Lobes eight or ten pairs, divided down to the nerve, of an oblong iigure,. terminating in an obtnfe point, the verges a little rolled back, and, while young, feeling downy to the touch.

Seed veffels difpofed in lines under the edges of the lobes, (which is the characleriftic of the genus,) at Hrft white, afterv/ards brown ; when the feeds are difcharged, the lines become broader and more confpicuous, but never cover the dilk of the lobes, as all the acrofticha, and many of the afplenia do.

The plate -reprefents a third leaf of the natural fize with the feed veffcls.

Brakes, (in Yorkdiire, brackens,) grow about the Ikirts of barren moors, and in fuch wade places where the badned of the foil renders the ground -not worth cultivating.

F

ASPLENIUM.

i8

F I L I C E S

B R I T A N N I C 7^:.

A S P L E N I U M.

Lin. Gen. Plan. 1178. ASPLENIUM fcolopendrium*

Linn. Spec. Plan. 1537. Ra-y Syn. 116. Flo. Scot. 660. Flo. Ang^ 452. Ger.Fm. 1138. Park. 1040.

TAB. XL

HARTS TONGUE.

root is black, hard, ftrong black hbres.

covered with fcales, and emitting numerous

Leaves from Eve to twelve inches long, lance-fliaped above, the two hdes rounded at the bottom, fo as to give a cordated appearance to the lower extremity of the leaf, and receiving the rib in the hollow dent ; the rib is brown or blackifh, hard, gloffy, having brown chaffy fcales, and is deflitute of leaf about one-third of its length ; the leaf is hard, tough, and firm to the touch, with numerous parallel veins running obliquely from the central nerve to the margin, of a dark fiiining green above, paler un- derneath, and often more or lefs undulated at the edge.

Seed

19

FILICES BRITANNIC iE*

Seed veffels on the under hde of the leaves, in lines running obliquely from the nerve to the margin ; fometimes there are tv/o feries of thefe lines of feed veiTels from the top of the leaf to the bottom, the lines of the inner feries much larger than thefe of the outer one, all of them running pa- rallel ; often there is b\]t a finglc feries on each fide of the rib ; and fome- times the lower part of the leaf is barren.

When the feed veffels are ripe, and burfl, the lines become broader, and feem covered with a brown dufl. The feeds being difpofed in lines on the prone dife of the leaf charaderifes the Genus Afplenium.

Harts Tongue grows ammngft rocks ; in the deep clifts between the rocks in Whitefcars and Scar Clofe near Ingieborough abundantly, where I have feen the leaves twenty-four inches long.

It grows in a little woody browq called Toad-Holes, in Sowerby DeaUj four miles from Halifax.

F 2

ASPLENIUM

F I L r C E s

B R I T A N N r C' ^V

2 0.

ASPLENtUM ceterach.

Lin,. Sp. PL 1538,, Ray Syn. 118. Flo. Scot. 661. Flo,..Ang. 4 52. Ger. Em. 1139. Park, ..io±6.

TAB. XiL

S P- L E E N W O Ps T.

f root conElls of many Ebres adhering to a fliort fhapelefs head 5

A which is furroiinded thickly by the Rumps of decayed leaves^ and is of a. dark-brown colour.

The leaves are from three to Eve inches long, femi -pinnate, and- lance- Eiaped ; the nerve brown towards the bottom, and naked for a little way from the root.

The lobes are about twenty pairs, fhort, broad, roundiEi, intire, but waved on the edges, largeft in the middle of the leaf, diminifhing gradu- ally both upwards and downwards, the uppermoE placed obliquely, all of them conEuent, and decurrent at the bafe, of a dark Eiining green on the upper Ede ; when the plant is old, the lobes of the leaf roll together in- wardly, and hide their fmooth furfaces.

Seed

'auj2..

I

F I L I C E S

BRIT A- N N I C m.

21

Seed vefTels make tiieir ErB appearance in three or four ilaort pale co- loured lines, placed obliquely on the under fide of the lobe near its middle nerve on each fide.

As the plant advances in growth, the feed veliels enlarge, turn brown, and, when burd;, run together and cover the whole difn of the lobes with their brown dufly filaments, as in the Genus Acroftichum.

Snleenwort is faid to stow in the chinks of old walls and rocks about Brifiol plentifully.

The fpecimen from which my figure was taken, I had from a perfon who told me he brought it from the lime rocks nea.r Malha.m Tann, in the place mentioned by Mr. Ray ; fee fynopfs^ ii8.

ASPLENIUM.

'F I L I C E S

B P. I T A

N N I C JE.

A S P L E N I U M trichomanes.

Lmn. op. PIa?i. 2540. Ray Syn. 119. Flo. Scot. 662. Flo. A-ng.

452. Ger. Em. 1146. Park. 1051,

FAB. XIII.

ENGLISH M A I D E N FI A I R.

The roots arc very fmall, conEiling of brown capillary Ebres loofcly affixed in the crevices of moift rocks.

Leaves five or Ex inches long ; the rib of a blackifh purple colour, fmooth, hard, Eiining, and is deEitute of leaf about one-third of its length from the root. The general figure is lance-fhaped.

Lobes fifteen or twenty pairs, the loweE pairs rnofl remote, the rell nearer and nearer by a Eow gradation to the top, all of them placed op- poEte ; their figure approaches to an oval, largefl below, gibbous on the upper fide at the bafe, and obliquely cut off on the lower, rounded or blunt at the extremity ; the lobe is crenated with ten or twelve dents, its bafe above and belov/ entire.

Seed

f

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

2S

Seed vefTels make their iirfl appearance in two or three white lines placed obliquely on each hde of the nerve on the back of the lobes ; when they are advanced in growth the colour becomes darker ; at laft they burfl:, difcharge the feeds, and fpread themfelves, but not fo as to cover the whole diik.

VARIETIES,

There is a variety of this plant in which the lobes arc fubdivided, and the fubdivihons elegantly crenated and lobed, feeTab. 2, Fig. 2, but this variety is rare,

Englifh Maiden Hair grows from the crevices of moift rocks, near rivu^ lets, on Snowdon and Ingleborough ; on rocks about Ogden Kirk ; on the moift rocks near the Pitcher Pit, in Soyland Mills Clough ; and other places in the neighbourhood of Halifax,

ASPLENIUM

24

F I L I C E S

B R I T A N N I C iE.

A S P L E N I U M viride.

Hud. .Flo. Ang. 453. Ih. Ed. prim. 385. Flo. Scot. 663.

r A B. XIV.

LESSER ENGLISH MAIDEN HAIR.

The root is fmall, fhort, covered with brown fcales, and furninicd with a multitude of capillary entangled brown fibres.

Leaves fimply pinnate, four or fivx inches long, lance-fhaped, but fome- what narrow ; the ribs tender, often of a pale green colour, fometimes brownifii towards the root. I have fpecimens, wherein the bottom part of the rib is brown and glofiy, as in the Afplenium trichomanes.

The lobes eighteen or twenty pairs, fometimes alternate, fometimes op- pofite, fhort, broad, of a rhomboidal figure, or irregular fquare of four unequal fides, attached to the rib by one of the angles, the upper and lower fides of the bafe entire, the other two crenated, the upper with fix or feven dents, the lower with four or five.

Seed

B Pv I T A N N I C iE.

'25

"F I L I C E S

*Seed vefiels Erft appear in two or three white oblong fpots on the under •Sde of the difk about the centre ; they afterw^ards turn of a yeliowifn ■ brown, and, when burft, become conduent, covering the central part of the dilk v/ith a brownifli nap ; which lafl circumfcance, together with the figure of the lobes, are fufficient to characlerize the fpecies, and to difiinguifii it from the Afplenium Trichomanes.

VARIETIES,

I have feen a variety of this plant with the leaves branched, the rib of the firfl: leaf throwing out other ribs furniflied with lobes like the firf , but fmaller: this variety I gathered on the rocks belov/ Ogden Kirk, on the oppofite fide of the Clough, A. D. 1783.

Is this variety the Afplenium Trichomanes ramofiim of Linnteus ? fee ’Tab. 2. Fig. 3.

Green Maiden-Flair grows on Ingleborough Hill in Yorkfhire ; on the mountains of North Wales abundantly ; from the chinks of moid rocks, beiide the Clough below the Great R.ock called Ogden Kirk, four miles from, Halifax,

G

AS'PLENIUM

26

F I L I C E S

B R I T A N N I C /E»

ASPLENIUM marinum.

Sp, PL 1540. Ray Syn. 119. Plot, Scot, 664. Flo, Ang, 453.

Ger, Fm, 1143. Park. 1045.

FAB. XV.

SEA S P L E E N W O P. T.

HE roots are brown, tough, and hard, full of fibres, fixed in the narrow chinks of the rocks.

and firmlv

j

The leaves are fimply pinnate, five or fix inches long, lance-fliapcd, blunt at the bafe ; the rib hard, firm, of a purplifli black, fnioath and fhiniiig ; upper fide a dark full green, paler below.

Lobes from feven to twenty pairs, oblong, with a remarkable expanfion on the upper margin near the bafe, and on the lower fide obliquely cut off ; bafe, both above and below the nerve, entire ; extremity of the lobes rounded or bluntly terminated ; all except the bafe crenated on the edges, with fifteen or fixteen dents on the upper fide of the nerve, nine or ten on the lower..

Seed:

eu.^5

l^^y- ' ■•;; V: '■ ‘1 ■ y ■= ■ ,. '.^v ,f'’ ■ '*

x^’lisxxxpxytk'

., .

W-Jn.-r'a ’■•-'ts# „ " ■

m^'-: '- \.. 'h - 'm0^X':}r r: ■

f.XWwlt'i ''.'f|

:4.

v3^

i

m

?!

"'•it-

7 .

I

irlS^^^P&;:>.*giii

U’’ 'r'- At i ' ; Vs :. V'-.;^ ' '; ? " -t "r* ' '^' »,'■' Vki. X

ri?- ' ■ -‘m -■

li,,-,. '•- ft Z:

, J^-'' lu'f^

^ ' y '-■ AA.*i

wV

-v:, --

-'Xa -M

F I L I C E S

B R I T A N N I C iE.

27

Seed vefTels placed in lines on the under fide of the lobes, four or live of thefe lines on each fide of the nerve running obliquely.

In this, as in all other afpleniums, the feed-lines, when burft, become [ broader, but do not in this fpecies, as in feveral, cover the whole under ; iide of the lobes.

V 'a R I E T I E S.

i

I The Rev. and ingenious Mr. Lightfoot obferved a variety of this plant I in the caves at Weems, in Scotland, which he fiippofes to be the fame as defcribed by Sibbald in his Scotia Illuflrata, p. 7, part 2 ; and which the : author of the Flora Anglica has named Adiantum trapeziforme. For the I fatisfaclion of the curious I have copied Sibbald’s figure ; fee "Tab. 2. Fig, 4.

j Sea Spleenwort is faid to grow on rocks in the Me of Anglefea ; about the fliores of Suflex, Devonfliire, Cornwall and Cumberland. Thefpeci- men from which I took my figure and defcription, I gathered from a rock in the fide of a fione pit, or quarry, clofe by the road leading from Warrington to Wiiiwick, in Lancafiiire.

)

ASPLENIUhl

G 2

2 8

F I L I C E S

B R I T A N N I C iE.

ASPLENIUM ruta-muraria,

hin.. Sp. PL 1541. P^ay Syn, 122, Flo. Scot. 665,.

Flo. Ang. 453. Ger. Ejjj. 1144. Pa7'k. 1050.

TAB. XVI.

WALLRUE MAIDEN - HAIR,

roots are fmall and hard, furniilied with fhort fibres, infinuatincr

M ^ O-

^ themfelves deeply in the narrow chinks of dry rocks .and the walls of old buildings.

Leaves three or four inches high, narrow as a thread, half their length from the root naked, the upper part branched'in an irregular alternate or- der, each branch carrying two or three lobes, of a very dark green above, paler underneath.

Lobes fhort, broad, with four unequal fidcs, adherinoc to the footfialk in an acute angle ; the two fides next the bafe entire, the two exterior fides finely crenated on the edges with numerous fmall dents.

Seed..

;

F' r L I C E s

29

B R I T A N N I C .E.

Seed veffeis ErE appear in wliite longidi dots on the under Ede of the IbbeSj two or three on each Ede the nerve, placed obliquely ; when the ■ feeds are ripe the veffeis burft, enlarge, and joining each other at their mar- !! gins cover the central part of the dific, the margins only being uncovered.

i

i

I There is a. variety with fmall leaves taken, notice of by Mr. Ray in 3d I :(yn. p. 123.

' Wallrue Maiden-Hair grows from the chinks of dry rocks in the North I of England, and on the mountains of Wales abundantly; on rocks in the !: Eves near Heptonftall ; on Sowerby Bridge, tv/o miles from Halifax. The t leaves grow Erft . horizontally, then curve gradually upv/ards.

I

i;

ASPLENiUM

I

30

F I L I C E S

B R 1 T A N X I C .E.

A S P L li N I U M adiantum - nioirum.

o

Sp. Plan. 1541. P^ay Syn. 126. Flo. Scot. 666. Flo. Any. 45Z.

Gcj\ Em. 1137. P(Jrk. 1406.

f

FAB. XVII.

BLACK MAIDEN HAIR.

^ir^HE roots arc long, large, and black, furniflred with many long Ebres, by wliicli it Exes itfcll fo Ermly in the places where it grows

that it is v/ith great diEiculty dug out.

FirE leaves From live to ten inches in length ; rib black, gloEy, and naked for half its length from the root ; Egure of the Icaly part tapering, broadeE below^ diminiEiing gradually to the top.

Second leaves ten or Efteen pairs, oppoEte or alternate, triangular, broad at the bafe, tapering to the point, of a Ene bright gloEy green above, paler underneath. ’

Lobes from four to feven pairs, one or two of the ErE pairs divided down to the nerve of the fecond leaves ; in luxuriant and full-grown fpecimeiis thefe lobes are again partly lobed, the other pairs becoming gradually con- Euent at the top of the fecond leaves.

The

!!

1;

i;

I

'■ . *

)

f

F I L 1 C E S. B R. I T A R N I C 31

The firfl; lobe on the upper fide grov/s eredf, and clofe to the rib of the

£rfl: leaf, on the. under fide it incimes obliquely outwards ; all of them entire on the two fides near the bafe, the reft finely crenated.

i'

I Seed veflels appear in white oblique lines on the back of the lobes, af-

‘ terwards become brown, and, when burft, enlarge and cover the central

[ part of the difk ; Jee Tab, j 7. Fig. 3»

!

V A R I, E T I E S.

I gathered a variety of this plant on an old wall near the village of Vf harf in Yorkfhire; leaves not broader below than in the middle, lance-fliaped ; fecond leaves alternate, remote, tapering ; lobes divided down to the mid- ' die rib, of a roundifli figure and. deeply crenated at top ; fee Tab. 17. j Fig. 2..

i

[

I

I

Is this the Afolenium lanceolatum- of Mr. Hudfon ? fee Flo. Fl?i^. 2nd Edit. p. 454. No. 8.

B1 ack Maiden Hair grows from the chinks of rocks and old walls in the

Weft-riding of Yorkfhire, and in Wales.

i

The foecimen fig;ured and defcribed I gathered on the rock near the

i iD O

the head of the vale of Clyde, in Denbighfliire, v/here the Lychen ftliquofus grows.

POLIPODIUM

32

F I L J C E S

BRITANNIC^,

P O L I P O D I U M.

■Lhi. Gc7i. Flail. 1179.

POLIPODIUAl vulgare.

Sp. PL 1544.

Ray Syn. 117. Flo. Scot. 667. Flo. Aiig. 4-5 j- Gei^.Ein. 1132. Pa?'h. 1039.

FAB. XVIIL

P O L I P O D Y.

root is long, crooked, branched, creeping Iiorizontally under dl the mofs, here and there emitting a few fibres.

The leaves rife fingly at fmall diftances from four to ten inches high ; they are fimply pinnate, lance-fliaped, and of a beautiful green, defiitute of lobes one-third of their length from the root, and of a firm dry fubflance.

Lobes fifteen or twenty pairs ; a few of the lowed: pairs increafing gra- dually upwards, then diminifiiing to the top, where they become confluent, terminating the leaf in an entire point ; they are tongue-fliaped, entire on the edges, and bluntly rounded off at the extremity.

Seed

l

C'

F I L I C E S

33

A N N I C

Seed veiTels placed in round dots on the back of the lobesj three or four n a row on each hde the nerve, Irom a pale green gradually changing to

i brown orange colour.

V A R I.. E T I E S.

The Polipodium cambricum is now knov/n to a variety of this plant, rhe general fhape of its leaves oval ; lobes confluent, and decurrent at the bafe, irregularly gaflied on the edges, the Segments long, narrow, crouded, ferrated or crenated on the edges, the whole leaf thin, fmooth, fenii- tranfparent, of a pale green and very elegant. See the figui^e of a lobe^ "Tab. 2. Fig. 5. a. This variety produces no feed veffels.

There is another remarkable variety in which the lobes are proliferous, having other lobes growing from their hdes ; feeTSab 2. Fig. ^.b. This variety was difcovered in fructification in a wood near Bingley by Mr. ¥/. Alexander, of Halifax, in Augufc 1782.

Polipody grows on old mofly walls, rocks, and about the roots of old trees in daady places.

H

UM

F I L I C E S BRITANNIC^.

POLIPODIUM lonchitls.

1548. Ray Sy It. 1.1^- Fla. Scot. 668. Flo. Ang.

Ger. Em. 114®' Pat'k. 1042.

TAB. XIX.

great spleen wort.

roots are thick, hard, compacT; and woody, covered with brcwr bales, very fibrous, and have many ftumps of decayed leaves re

maining upon them.

Ihaped, and of a bright and beautiful green ; thei: the rib covered with chaffy fcales of a pale browr

Leaves from five to ten inches long, imp

ten Inches long, firnply pinnate, perfectly lance- and beautiful green ; their fubftance hard and dry ;

pairs ftiort, remote, the reft growing gradually nea are of an irregular lunated figure, having an ear-lik

Lobes from fifteen to twenty five pa.rs, p

lairs, placed alternately, the ioweft gradually nearer to the top ; they

nearer to the top ; tney

r-like procefs on the upper

tli ^

edge near the bafej, of the lobe curving

tire, the reft c..^uo

fpiiies.

Seed

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

35

Seed vcffels placed in round dots on the plane dilk of the lobes on the under hde, eight or ten in a row on each fide the iierve.j white at Bril, of a yellowifli brown colour when ripe, the lobes on the lower half of the leaf generally barren.

Polipodium lonchitis very greatly refembles the Polipodium aculeatum in fome of its Bates, particularly that variety of it which Hudfon calls Polipodium lobatum, which I have Bgured Tab. 26. Fig. 2. Thefe two plants in figure, colour, fubflance, manner of growth and general habit, bear a refemblance too firiking to be difregarded.

The Polipodium aculeatum and lobatum are found growing on moifl; rocks and fhady places. Polipodium lonchitis on the cold mountains of North Wales. Is it pofiible that Polipodium lonchitis fiiould be aflarved variety of Polipodium aculeatum ?

Polipodium lonchitis grows on Snowdon ; near the foot of Crih y -ifiliing from the chinks of the rocks ; alfo on the rocks of Glydar^ near -Llanberris, v/here I gathered the fpecimen here figured and deferibed.

H 2

36 F I L I C E S B R I T A N N I C iE.

POLIPODIUM phcgopteris,

Sp, PL 1550. Ray Syn, 122. Flo. Scot. 669. Flo. A?2g.

TAB. XX.

WOOD POLIPODY.

The roots are long, crooked, branched, and creep under the mors* in the moid: part of dark and fliadowy woods, emitting a few fibres into the crumbly mould as they creep along.

Firf!: leaves from fix to twelve inches high ; rib a little chafiy, naked more than half its length from the root ; general outline of the leaf trian- gular, tapering from the bafe to the point ; colour a dark fufcous green ; lib {lender, round, pellucid.

Second leaves eight or ten pairs, fometimes oppofite, lowed; pair the. larged:, thence diminidiing to the top.

Lobes ten or twelve pairs ; the lowed; pair diorted;, united on its outer edge to the next lobe, on its inner to the rib of the fird: leaf, and is decur- rent ; ■

F r L I C E s

B R- I T A N N I C iE.

37

rent ; fee I’ah, 20. Fig. 2. The other lobes for three or four of

the hril pairs, near the extremity become confluent, terminating the fecond leaf in a crenated point. The lobes on one or two of the larged fecond leaves are irregularly crenated ; lowed pair of the fecond leaves wants the fliort decurrent lobe at the bafe.

Seed veflbls in fmall dots on the margins of the lobes near their diviflons, two, three, or four on each flde, at fird white, afterwards of a pale brown, ladly black.

Wood Polipody grows in themoid part of fliadowy woods, in the Wed Riding of Yorkfbire in many places ; in a little wood in Soyland, jud by the brook below Kebroyd-Mill plentifully ; and in a little fhadowy range of wood ground near the brook above Oldhoufe-Mill, Norland, two miles from Flalifax.

The whole plant is of a dark fufeous green ; whild young a little downy, and feels foft to the touch ; to the lower part of the rib adhere a few chaffy pale brown fcales».

P O L I P O D I U M

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

« o

POLIPODIUM fontanum.

Sp. Flan. 1550. Flo. Ang. 456. T J B. XXI.

fountain polipodi.

The firft leaves three or four inches long, lance-lhaped, narrow at the top ; rib fmooth, naked about an inch from the root, and of a pale green colour, of an hard and dry fubftance.

Second leaves twelve or fifteen pairs, alternate, of an oval figure, broad

at the bafe, and bluntly pointed.

Lobes three or four pairs, oppofite, divided down to the nerve, of a roundilh figure, and crenated with three or four dents, flowing together at the extremity of the fecoad leaf.

Seed velTels make their firft appearance in fmall dots on the back of the lobes ; when they burft, they flow together and overfpread the whole dilk. Dr. Hill, in his Flora Britannica, page 530, tab. 3, gives a bad figure o this plant for the Acroftichum livenfe.

Fountain

'

F I L I C E S B- R l: TANNIC^*

39

Fountain Polipody is faid to grow on old walls and rocks above Ham- merfham church ; in Eony places near Waybourn in Weftmorland. The Specimen here figured and defcribed was fent to my brother, A.D. i775> by a gentleman who gathered it in Buckinghamfhire, and, miftook it for the Acroftichunx ilvenfe^

POLIPODIUM

40

F I L I C E S

B R I T A N N I C /E.

P O L I P O D I U M thclypteris.

Flo, Ang, 457. Flo. Scot. 674. Ray Syn. 122. Ger. Em. 1135-.

Park. 1041.

FAB. XXII.

M A P. S H P O L I P O D Y.

roots arc long, large, and furniflied with innumcraldic long fibres, which fpread under the furfacc, and take fafi held of the mire in which it grows.

Firft leaves from one to two feet in length, lance-fliaped, broadefi in the middle, thence gradually decreafing upwards, and terminating in an acute point.

Second leaves from fifteen to thirty pairs, oppofite or alternate, below more remote, upwards growing gradually nearer each other, and, near the top, running together at their bafe.

Lobes about fifteen pairs, not divided quite down to the nerve, of an oblong figure, broadefi: at the bafe, ending in an obtufe point, and entire 'on the edges, lowefi pair the largefi, thence diminifiiing to the top, where they become confluent, and lofe tliemfelves in the acute termination of the fecond leaf.

Seed

T I L I -C E S

BRITANNIC^.

41

Seed velTels placed in dots on the under margin of the lobes, tab. fig.

:d ; at firft of a whitifh colour, and diftind ; when ripe, they burfi, turn )rown, flow together, and cover the v/hole difk of the lobe, except the

niddle nerve, fig. 3, From this laid circumftance, the plant v/as formerly

aken for an Acroftichum ; fee hin, Sp. PL 1528. Wo. 25.

The young roots are barren, the leaves arifing from them are fix or fight inches high, all the parts fewer, their fubftance thin, light, tender md delicate, fig. i . In this ftate it is accurately defcribed by the inge- nious John Goodyer ; fee Ger. Em. p. 1 1 35*

■ Marfh Polipody grows in nioift niarfhy grounds about the borders or moors, woods and rivulets. It grows at the bottom of^a little wood near the rivulet diredly below the cottages in Birks-lane, half a mile iiom Hali" fax ; in the top of a four field under North Dean Wood, Norland ; and about Cob Clough near Ripponden plentifully.

I fufped the Polipodium fragrans of Mr. Hudfon to be a variety of this plant, where the feeds, accidentally taking root on rocks, produce fmall plants having the parts crouded. Linnseu s’s defeription of the Polipodium fragrans, Mantifa, 2, 307, agrees with Polipodium thelypteris in every thino- but magnitude. If Polipodium fragrans is a real fpecies, I fiiall be thankful to any one who will communicate a fair fpecimen, or give hints of information concerning it.

I

POLIPODIUM

42

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC

POLIPODIUM crlftatum.

Sp. PL 1551. Ray Syn. 124. Flo, Scot, 670. Flo. Ang,

Ger, Em, 1129.

FAB, XXIIL

CRESTED POLIPODY.

The root is a fliort jiiif-iliapen lump, furniflied with a multitude of long, brown, divided, and fubdivided fibres,

Firft leaves from fix to thirty inches high ; the rib thinly covered with brown chafiy films, deftitute of leaf for more than half its length j general figure of the leaf triangular, tapering upwards to a point.

Second leaves from nine to fifteen or twenty pairs, placed oppofite or alternate ; of a triangular figure tapering to the extremity.

Third leaves from feven to fifteen pairs, of an oblong fiiape, but taper- ing to a point ; thofe which grow on the lower fide of the rib of the fecond leaf larger than thofe which grow on the upper.

Lobe^

/

33,

■''win

Jr.vi

F I L I C E S

B R I T A N N I C iE.

43

Lobes nine or ten pairs, of an oval {hape, deflebied, lowefl pairs largePc, divided down to the nerve; the others gradually run together at the extre- mity, and lofe themfelves in the point of the third leaf, all of them fer- rated and fpiny on the edges.

Seed velTels placed in round dots in the back of the lobes, two or three on each near the divilions ; they are at firfi: white, afterwards brovv'n, and at lail turn blackhli.

VARIETIES.

There are two varieties of this plant ; one, in which the lowefl pair only of fecond leaves are fo fubdivided as to produce third leaves having diflincl divided lobes. From a fpecimen of this kind my figure was taken. In the other variety, feveral of the lower pairs of fecond leaves are thus fubdivided,

Mr. Hudfon feems to fufpedl that the Polipodium rheticum is a fmali variety of this plant.

Crefled Polipody grows from the chinks of moiil rocks and old walls in fleep and craggy woods every where in the parifli of Halifax ; particularly in Birks W ood, and Lee Bank fhrogs, abundantly,

I 2

POLIPODIUM

44 FILICES BRITANNIC P O L I P o D I u I.l Filix-mas.

Lin. Sf. PL ISSI. Ray Syn. i 20. Flo. Scot. 671. Flo. Ang. 4,58.

Cer. Em. 1130. Park. 1036.

TAB. XXIV.

MALE FERN.

T-^HE root is large, long, firm, and woody, furrounded on the outfide with thick brown fcales in an imbricated order, and furnifhed with

many long black tongh fibres.

The firft leaves from one to four feet in length ; when young, the rib is thickly covered with brown tough tranfparent fcales of an oblique oval lance-lhape ; the general figure of the leaf is lance-flraped, broadeft in the middle, and thence gradually decreafing to each e.xtremity, and terminat-

ing above in 3.n acute point.

Second leaves from fifteen to forty pairs, remote on the lower part, growing gradually nearer upwards, and running together at the top.

Lobes from feven to fifteen pairs, the loweft pair largeS, decreafing up- wards till they run together and lofe themfelves in the point of the fecond

FILICES BRITANNIC^.

45

leaf, their iliape oblong, rather broader at the bafe, blunt at the extremit)^, and more or lefs ferrated or crcnated on the edge, particularly at the upper extremity.

Seed veffels in two rows placed on the back of the lobes on the plane of the difk, one rov/ on each fide the nerve, in number from three to fix, kidney-fhaped, covered with a pellicle ; they are at firfl; white, then change to a bluifli or afh colour , v/hen the feeds are ripe the pellicle burfls, and, after the difcharge of the feeds, the veffels become brown, and appear as if covered with duff, but do not run together as in the Polipodium the- lypteris.

The certain charaffers of diffindion between Polipodium Filix-mas, and Polipodium thelypteris, are thefe : in the firft, the lobes are broad at the extremity, and ferrated ; the feed-veflels are kidney -ffiaped, and placed on the plane difk of the lobes ; in the laft the lobes are obtufely pointed, and entire on the edges ; and the feed veffels placed in rows of fmall round dots clofe to the margin of the lobes.

Male Fern grows about the borders of woods near rivulets, and in ftony and rocky places about Halifax abundantly.

POLIPODIUM

46 F I L I C E S B R I T A N N I C JE.

POLIPODIUM Filix-femiiia.

Sp. PL 1552. Ray Syn. 121. Flo. Scot. 673. Flo. Flng. 458.

Ger. Em. 1130. No. 3.

¥

FAB. XXV.

FEMALE FERN.

roots are large, hard, and woody, covered with brown tough -i- fcales, very Ebrous, and taking Erm hold in the ground.

The Erft leaves from one to four feet high ; the rib fmooth, furrowed on the upper Ede, round or gibbous on the under, gently waved near the top for the infertion of the fecond leaves, while young a fev/ chaEy brown fcales on the lower part ; the general outline of the leaf lance-fhaped, broad in the middle, acutely pointed above.

Second leaves from fifteen to forty pairs, broadeft at the bafe, thence gradually diminifiaing and terminating in a fine extended point ; pairs placed more remote below, the ErE three inches from the next, coming nearer each other gradually upwards ; near the top the triple diviEon ceafes, the third leaves are loE in the fecond, and the fecond in lobes which terminate the whole in a fine feathered point.

Third

t

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

47

Third leaves from twenty to thirty-five pairs, placed nearly oppofite, lowed: pair largeft, diminifiiing upwards till they are loft in the termina- tion of the fecond leaves.

Lobes ten or twelve pairs, oppofite, a few of the firft pairs divided down to the nerve, confluent at the point, v/here they are loft in the blunt cre- nated termination of the third leaf ; they are of an oblong figure, blunt at the extremity, where they are deeply crenated with three or four dents.

The number of thefe lobes, on a large and well-grov/n leaf, I have found to exceed five and thirty thoufand , the whole of a fine green ; the fub- ftance light, tender and very delicate, and in point of beauty and elegance much fuperior to any other of the Britifti ferns,.

Seed veftels in round dots, one on each lobe near the divifioii at its bafe, at firft white, afterwards green, and at laft brown.

My figure is reduced by a fcale of twenty-four fuppofed inches, on fix inches of the ftandard foot. The branch, v/itli feed veftels, is taken from a fmall, or middle-fized fpecimen, and, drawn of its natural bignefs.

Female Fern grov/s in the moift part of rocky v/oods, and about brooks and rivulets in the Vf eft-riding of Yorkftiire. In rocky moift places befide Lee Beck near Halifax plentifully.

4.8 F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC a;.

POL I PODIUM aculeatum.

Lin. Sp. Plan. 1552. Ray Syn. 121. Flo. Scot. 675. Flo. Ang. 459.

Ger. Em. 1130.

r A B. XXVI.

prickly p o l t p o d y.

First leaves from one to tv/o feet in length, of a true lance^fnapCH broadeft in the middle, decreafing gradually and flowly toward the extremities, being fomewhat broader at bottom than at top ; the rib chan- neled on the upper fide, round below, and clofely covered with brown chaffy filmy fcales ; fubfiance hard, rigid, dry; colour a dark green.

Second leaves from twenty to forty in number, one or two of the loweft pairs placed oppofite, becoming gradually alternate upwards, feparate from each other quite to the top, the loweft pair a little more remmte than the next above, by an eafy gradation growing nearer and nearer to the top, all placed at an acute angle with the middle rib, and curving upwards from the bafe to the point.

Lobes from eight to twenty, a few of the firft pairs divided down to the

nerve, they thence gradually become confluent, and lofe themfelves in the

acute

i

I

r/

'■X

. I

■M

■ >7

’’X

‘ :

' f

1*?

'.;-v;

I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

49

rxiite prickl)^ termination of the fecond leaf ; £rit lobe on the upper fide largefr, of an oblique ear-fnape, eredj terminating in a {harp fpine, has a kind of projeclion or appendage on the outer fide in the broaded; part, which, as well as the little projections on both fides, terminates in a fmall iharp fpine ; the other lobes on the upper fide approach to this in fliape, but are fmaller, fpiny and erect ; lobes on the lower fide obliquely ear- draped, grow in an horizonta.1 directiion, making a very acute angle with the nerve, and, like thofe above, are armed with fharp fpines.

Seed vefiels placed in rows, l^ah. 26. Fig. 3. on the plane diHt of the fe- cond leaves ; near the top of the plant there are only two regular rows one on each dde the nerve ; lower down they are placed on the lobes, fome- what irregularly, from one to five on each, (fee Fig. lower half of the iirfL leaf barren.

The Polipcdium lobatum, Hall. Hift. 1712, and Flo. Ang. 459? is doubtiefs a young plant of Polipodium aculeatiim ; of this I am certain from obfervation, fee Tab. 26. Fig. 2. fee afo Flo. Scot. p. 676.

Polipodium aculeatum grows from the iiffures of rocks in damp places ; on rocks near the bottom of Benroyd Clough, Norland ; and in a little wood called Toad-Holes, in Sowerby Dean, both near Halifax.

K

POLIPODIUM

50

F I L I C E S

B R I T A N N I C /E.

POLIPODIUM fragile.

Sp. Plan. 1553. Ray Syn. 125. Flo. Scot. 677. Park. 1043. *

TAB. XXVII.

BRITTLE POLIPODY.

T he body of the root confifts of tbe flumps of old leaves which remain undecayed for a confiderable time in the ground ; they are covered with brown fcalesj and furnidied with many fibres below, taking firm hold in the place where it grows.

The hrfi: leaves from five to nine inches high ; the rib fmooth, flender, and brittle, at firfl of a pale green colour, when old of a purplifh brown, and glofTy, naked for about one-third part of their length from the ground; outline of the firfl: leaf lance-fhaped, broader at the bafe, narrow at the point.

Second leaves eight or ten pairs placed oppofite, remote, broadefl at the bafe, gradually diminifhing in breadth to the extremity, and drawing nearer and nearer each other to the top of the firfc leaf.

Lobes

F I L I C E S

5^

B R I T A N N I C

Lobes fix or feven pairs, placed oppofite, diPsiant from one another be- low, growing nearer each other to the top of the fecond leaf, where they run together in the point of it ; their figure is oval, and they are crenated round the edge with eight or ten diftincl dents.

The dots of feed veiTels are placed on the under diik of the lobes, two or three in a row on each fide of the nerve, at fir (I white, at laiC brown, and, v/hen burfl:, run together, and cover the diik of the lobes, except the margin only.

VARIETIES.

I have feen a variety of this plant, grov/ing in moifi and very fiiady fituations, as in the deep fiffures of moifi rocks where the fun was excluded, or where it was over grown and fhadowed with other plants, v/herein the leaves were more tall and Bender than the above deferibed ; the rib of a pale green, the fecond leaves more remote, the lobes narrower, and the whole plant more light, tranfparent, and delicate ; this is undoubtedly the Polipodium Rheticum of Linnjeiis, fee Flo, Scot, 679, aijd jny Fig, Tab. 2. Fi7. 6.

o

Brittle Polipody grows from the fiffures of rocks about Ingleton and Settle, in Yorkfiiire ; about Caffleton and other places in the high Peak, Derbyfiiire j on Snowdon in Caernarvon fliire, North V/ales, abundantly.

K 2

FCLIPCDIUAd

52

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

POLIPODIUM drvonteris.

v 1

Sp, Pi. 1555. Ray Syn. 125. Flo. Scot. 678. Flo. Ang. 640.

Ger. Em. 1135. Park. 1043.

' FAB. XXVIII.

♦

BPvANCHED POLIPODY.

^'TT^FIE roots are long, crooked, knotty, and creep under the mofs, -i- emitting Bender fibres as they creep along.

The firft leaves rife fingly at difiances from the root ; the rib round, Bender, dark green, and femi-tranfparent, naked about three-fourths of its length from the root, and about eight inches high ; the general figure of the leaf triangular.

Second leaves eight or nine pairs, the lowefi pair twice divided, fo as to produce third leaves, the other pairs fimply pinnated, placed oppofite at the bafe where they are broadeft, and terminate gradually in a point.

- Third leaves fix or feven pairs, placed oppofite, broadefi at the bafe,- pointed at the top, larger on the lower fide of the nerve of the fecond leaf.

Lobes^

54

F I L I C E S

B R I T A N N I C iE.

A D I A N T U M.

ADIANTUM

Sp. PL 1559. Ray Sy?2. 123.

Ge?\ Em. 1143.

TAB.

Lin. Gen. PI. 1 1 80. Capillus-veneris.

Flo. Scot. 679. Flo. Ajig. 460. Park. 1049.

XXIX.

T P. U E M A I D E N - H A I Pv.

root is fliort, fimple, and furniflied with many black fibres.

1

Firfi; leaves five or fix inches high ; rib of a black purple colour, llenier, very bright and gloiTy, naked almofi; half its length from the root ; general outline of the leaf approaching to an oval.

Second leaves about three on each fide, in an unequal alternate order, an inch and half long, compofed of fix or feven lobes, generally Supported on fingle fiiort filiform footfialks ; fometimes thefe footfialks are again di- vided and Support two lobes.

Lobes fan-fliaped, narrow at the bafe, entire on the outer edges, broad and rounded at the extremity, where they are divided into four or five lobes or Segments, which are of a membranaceous fubflancc and turn backwards.

Seed

FILICES BRITANNIC^.

55

Seed veffels placed in lines or oblong fpots on tlie upper margin of the lobe, and covered by the thin fegments which are bent back upon them ; i at hrft of a white colour, covered with a membrane which burflis when ripe, after which the veffels are brown and appear dufty.

For ADIANTUM trapeziforme, which follows the above in Flo. Ang, and which is now found not to* be a Britifh plant, fee page 27.

True Maiden -Hair is faid to grow on moift rocks and walls at Barry- Illand, and Porth-Kirig, in Glamorganfhire. The fpecimen from which I took my figure and defeription grew amongfl; the extenfive collection of rare and valuable plants in the rich and beautiful garden of the worthy John Blackburne, Efq; of Orford, near Warrington, Lancafhire.

TRICHOMANES

56

F r L I .c E s

B R I T A N N I C /E.

TR'ICIiOM ANES. Lin. Gen. PI. 1181.

T R I C H O M A N E S pyxidiferum.

A/;;. Sp.Pl. 1561. Ray Syn. 127. T'ab. 3. Fig. 4, 5. Flo. Ang. 461.

TAB. XXX.

CUP TRICI-IOM ANES.

A' roots are flenderj filiform, branched, creeping, and furnifiied

-E with innumerable extremely fliort and eredl fibres, by which it ad- heres to and creeps along the moifi: rocks in the dark caverns w'here it grows, jufl; as the fiender fhoots of ivy creep along a wail or the bark of a tree.

Firfl leaves two or three inches long ; the rib like an hair, with a mem- brane on each fide formed by the decurrency of the fecond leaves ; outline of the leaves a long oval, more pointed above, leavxs rifing at diftances from the creeping root.

Second leaves four or five pairs, placed alternate, largeft below, gra- dually diminifhing to the top.

Lobes

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

57

Lobes two or three pairs, alternate, gafhed in two or three fegments, which are obtufe at their extremities, and fome of them indifcinclly waved or crenated on the edges ; fubftance, a thin, light, pellucid, dark-green membrane, with a black hair-like nerve running up the middle quite from the root to the top along the middle of the hrfi: and fecond leaves the lobes and their fegments. In the drawing and engraving of my figure, I have been painfully exadf. The figure above referred to in Ray’s Synopfis is of a firfl leaf very greatly exaggerated.

Seed veflels, none ever difcovcred upon this Phenomenon of a plant.

Firfl: difcovered by Dr. Richardfon in a little dark cavern, under a drip- ping rock, a little below the fpring of Elm Cragg Well, in Bell Bank, fcarce half a mile from Bingley. In this place I faw it in plenty, in the year 1758 : afterwards fome alterations being made about the well, for the con- venience of the proprietor, the cavern was deftroyed, the plant perifhed, and was loft to Great-Britain till the year 1782; at which time being en- gaged in this work, and pafiioiiately defirous to fee the plant again in its growing ftate, after feveral refearches in Bell Bank, I found a root under a dripping rock, to the left fide of the current, and about fifteen yards above the ciftern. From this root I have fent fpecimens to one or two of my friends, and have in my poflefiion the beft of them, from which this figure and defcription was taken.

L

TRICHOMANES

58

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC iE.

TRICHOMANES tunbrigenfe.

Sp. PL 1561. Ray Sy 71. 123. Flo. Scot. 681. Flo. Atig. 461.

TAB. XXXI.

TUNBRIDGE TRICHOMANES.

Roots flender, filiform, branched, furniflied with very fliort black fibres by which they creep along.

Firfl leaves one or two inches high, rifing fingly and at difiances from the root ; rib hair-like, black, with a membrane on each fide, formed of the decurrent part of the fecond leaves ; general outline of the firft leaf, oval, narrov/efi; towards the top.

Second leaves two or three pairs, alternate, placed diftant, decurrent, or with their bottoms running down the nerve of the firft leaf.

Lobes two or three pairs, alternate, fometimes fimple, moft commonly divided into tv/o or three fegments, of a longifii oval fliape, blunt at the extremity, fometimes (not always) ferrated or crenated on the edges, de- current to the nerve of the fecond leaf ; fubftance thin, delicate, tender, and tranfparent, except the middle nerve, wdiich is hard, black, fine as an hair, and runs along the central part of the firfl leaf, and all its divifions.

Seed

F I L I C E S

59

B R I T A N N I C

Seed vefiels, globular, fize of a fluall muflard-feed, Hipported on an hair- like footftalk a line in length, and arifing from the edge of the de- current part of the membrane at the original of the fecond leaves,

VARIETIES.

I fufpedt the Trichomanes pyxidiferum of Bell Bank to be a luxuriant variety of this plant ; their figure, texture, colour, and whole habit are the fame, only differing in magnitude. In this opinion I am confirmed by obfervation ; for in the year 1784, I found the Trichomanes tiinbri- genfe growing in great plenty on the rocks under Dolbadon Caftle, near the lake of Llhanberris ; in cavities where the rock was moift, - and over- fliadowed with other plants, fo as to exclude the fun, I found fpecimens fo far approaching to the Trichomanes pyxidiferum, as to form a connebl- ing link between it and the Trichomanes tunbrigenfe, partaking equally of the one and of the other ; one of thefe fpecimens I have exadly figured "Tab. 2. Fig. 7.

Trichomanes tunbrigenfe grows on mofly rocks in the Wefl-Riding of Yorkfhire; particularly on the rock called Foal Foot, on Ingleborough- Hill. On the Welch mountains plentifully.

F

1

N

I

N INDEX.

L A T

Acrojl icliiim fepteMrionale	Page 12
Acrojlichum ilvmfe	14
Adiaiitum trapeziforme	-7, 55
Adiantum capillus veneris	54
Afpleniim Jcolopendriiim	18
Afplenium ceterach	20
Afplenium trichomanes	22
AJpleniim vinde	24
Afplenium marinum	26
Afplenium ruta-muraria	28
Afplenium adiantum-nignim	30
Afplenium lanceolatum	31
Ophioglofum vidgatum	2
Ofnunda lunaria	4
Ofnunda regalis	6
Ofnunda fpicant	8
Ofnunda crifpa	10
Polipodium vidgare	32
Polipodium lonchitis	34
Polipodium phegopteris	36
Polipodium fontanum	38

LATIN INDEX.

Polipodium thelypteris	Page 40
Polipodium fragrans	41
Polipodium crijiatum	42
Polipodium Jilix~mas	44
Polipodium Jilix-femina	46
Polipodium aculeatum	48
Polipodium lobatum	49
Polipodium fragile	50
Polipodium rheticum	SI
Polipodium dryopteris	52
Trichomanes pyxidferum	56
Trichomanes tunbrigenfe	58

ENGLISH

^ D E X.

A

A

	Page
Adders Ton(iiie	2
Brakes	1 6
Black Maiden Hair	3'=
Brittle Polipody	5°
Branched Polipody	5^
Curled Stone Fern	10
Crejled Polipody	42
Cup Tricliomanes	56
Englijh Maiden Hair	22
■ Lejfer	-4
Forked Maiden Hair	12
Fountain Polipody	38
Female Fern	46
Harts Tongue	18
Lobed Polipody	49
Moonwort	4
Marjh Polipody	40
Maiden Hair True	54
, — — — - Shining	^7, 55
Male Fern	44
OJmund Royal	6

ENGLISH

INDEX.

Polipody Common

— Wood

Fountain

— Marfh

Crejlnd

Prickly

Lobed

• Brittle

Stone

■— Branched

Rough Spleenzjcort Spleenioort Smooth

Sea

Rough

Spear

• Common

Stone Fern with Red Rattle Leaves Shining Maiden Hair True Maiden Hair Trichornanes^ Cup Tunbridge Tnchomanes

Page

36

38

40

42

49

50

51 52.

34

8

26

34

3^

20

14

27» 55

54-

58

[THOMAS WRIGHT, Leeds, Printer.]

E R P. A T A

IN THE

INTRODUCTION.

1

I

1

Page

!2, Line iq, erafe in.

13, — — 16, after Marinusu, add, Afplenium adiantum nigrum.

16, — iG, for Equifetum, read Equircta,

I

, IN THE BOOK.

er™— ^,for, and the feeds when difchargcd, read, and

Avlien the feeds are difcharged.

2j/cA'red, brown, read, reddifh brown.

“ 2S, — — 14, for in, read by.

31, — =— 18, /«;• Lychen, Lichen.

’Throughout, for PoHpodium, read Polypodium.

FILICES BRITANNIC^;

H I	s	A N T	O R Y
R I T ]	[ S	O F H	FERNS.

PART THE SECOND.

With PLAIN and ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS,

AND

NEW FIGURES of all the SPECIES,

•Taken from an immediate and careful Infpeftion of the Plants in their Natural State, Drawn of their Natural

Size, and accurately Engraved,

INCLUDING

An APPENDIX to the FORMER PART of this WORK,

By which the Whole is completed.

By JAMES BOLTON,

Member of the Nat. Hift. Society, Edinburgh.

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY J. BROOK, HUDDERSFIELD*.

AND SOLD BY

B; WHITE AND SON, LONDON; J. BINNS, LEEDS; and may be had of all other Booksellers-,

MjDCCjXC,

INTRODUCTION

CONTINUED.

The Genus of Plants called Equifetum^ or Horfetail, conftituting a Part of the Order FILICES in the LINNj^AN system, together with the two other Genera, the Ifoetes and Pilularia^ are the fubjeft of the prefent Sheets.

The Horfetails, of which no more than fix fpecies have been difcovered in Great Britain (by that fondnefs for in- creafing the number of Plants which almoft Univerfally pre- vailed amongft the Botanifts of the laft ages) have been in- increafed to double their real number, by the Addition of imaginary fpecies,

Dillenius, in the third Edition of Ray'^s Synopfs^ enume- rates twelve fuppofed fpecies ^ fix of v/hich, that are varieties only, and not fpecies, I v/ill here endeavour to point out.

There is a variety of Equifetum fylvaticum,^ not unfre- quently to be met with by Road-fides and in Pathways, hav- ing the fecond leaves all turned to one fide of the firft leaf or flem ^ this happens when the firft leaf has been trod down, or by fome Accident fo bent or broken as to lie flat on the

d Ground ^

XVIU

INTRODUCTION.

Ground j all the fecond leaves naturally rife upward, but they iffue from all fides of the firft leaf at the bafe of the vagina, in the declined, as well as In the ereft Plant 5 the Plant in this ftate makes the

Equifetum fylvaticum procumbens fath uno verfu difpofitis. Ray Syn. P. 131- No. 5.

There is a Variety of Equifetum arvenfe, which grows m very wet foils in clofe woods, amongft tall grafs or under the umbrage of various other Plants, in which the leaves are very {lender, and greatly drawn out in length ; in which ftate

rn3.kcs the

Equifetum pratenfis longiffimis fetis. Ray Syn. 1 3 1 . No. 8.

The fertile {hoots of Equifetum arvenfe come up belore the barren ones ; thefe are deftitute of fecond leaves, they are variegated with brown colours, and foon perilh ; m this

ftate they are the

Equifetum nudum minus variegatum bafilienfe. Ray byn.

p. 130. No. 3.

There is a variety of the Equifetum paluftre, which grows in {hady fituations or under trees, about the borders of ponds and brooks, wherein both the {irft and fecond leaves are very {lender, and drawn out In length, much beyond their uiual ftandard, and are frequently of a pale yellow-green colour; ^

this is the

Equifetum

INTRODUCTION.

XIX

Equifetum palujlre tenuijfimis longijfimis fetis, Ray Syn.

P, 1 31. No, 6. This through mi flake has been made a

variety of Kquifetum Arvenfe,

There is another variety of Kquifetum paluflre^ in which the branches or fecond leaves are fertile, producing fmall flower fpikes on their fummits. This variety, in moll in- ftances where I have had an opportunity of obferving it, has been occafioned by that the primary flower fpikes, of fuch Ihoots as produced fecondary ones, had been bit off or other- wife deftroyed ; this variety is the

Kquifetum paluflre minus polyflachion, Ray Syn, P, 1 3 1 , No, 7. Tab, 5. Kig, 3.

When the Kquifetum limofum grows in the mud at the bottom of Hill ponds or rivers, and is in a luxuriant Hate, it commonly produces plenty of branches or fecond leaves j in which Rate it makes the

Kquifetum foliis nudum ramofum, Ray Syn, 132. No, 12.

There is a variety of Kquifetum hyemale^ in which the leaves are rufh-like, quite Ample, and deftitute of branches , in this Rate it makes the

Kquifetum foliis nudum non ramofum fue junceum, Ray Syn, 1 31. No, ii.

e

The

XX

INTRODUCTION.

The manner in which the feeds of the Horfetails are dif- charged is beautiful, and well deferves our regard. The laborious and ingenuous Hedwig has well illuftrated this par- ticular, by a number of figures, in his Theoria PL Crypt, ^ab. I, 2. And I have found the truth of his Obfervatlons by examining the fame fubjefts, under the firft magnifier of Cuff’s Compound Microfcope, as now fold by Nairn and Plounty in London 5 my figures, however, vary a little from thofe of Hedwig.

In the annexed Plate, A, is a fingle fhield feparated from [ the flower fpike, and magnified with its curved fupport, and ‘ its fix feminal valves unopened. Thefe valves open by a Ion- i gitudinal future from top to bottom, on the inner fide, and copioufly difcharge a foft downy powder, which when newly fallen or fhook out may, through a moderate fpy-glafs, be feen to fkip and leap about as if alive ; after the difcharge of this powder the feminal valves or capfules remain for fome time in an horizontal direction, empty and dry, as is ex- preffed at B ; where the underfide of the Ihield and the infide ' of the valves are reprefented. - i

The feparate feed-veffels, if fuch we may call them, con- fifl of an oval placenta, and four fpoon-fhaped filaments or ■ ftraps j to thefe laft the feeds immediately adhere. While ;

thefe \

1

j

»

i

]

i

4

n

/

INTRODUCTION.

XXI

thefe feed-velTels are included in the feminal valves, the ftraps are rolled round the placenta, in two oppolite fpiral direc- tions, as is exprefled at C, where they are beginning to un- roll ; at D, they are reprefented as farther difengaged 5 at F, they are quite expanded 5 and at G, the elaftic force of the filaments being quite exhaufted, they are at reft. This un- rolling of the ftraps or filaments, however, is not gradual, as I have reprefented it, but performed in an inftant, by a hid- den jerk 5 by which the feeds are thrown oflp with force, and committed to the air, where they float innumerable. IVhat is their ufe ? Certainly they are produced for other purpofes befides the propagation of the fpecies ^ every perfect feed fpike produces millions of thefe, and yet the plant is propo- gated by the root 5 nay, fo rarely do the feeds anfwer the purpofe of propogation, in this family, that I could never yet difcover a feedling plant of any one of the fpecies.

The fame obfervation holds good, in refpe£l: to all the other Ferns, and to the Fungi ; the multitude of feeds produ- ced by an Agaric or a Boletus, is innumerable ! is aftonilh- ing ! yet not one of ten thoufand anfwers the purpofe of pro- pogation. Is not the Air we breathe charged with them all the declining part of the year ? Do we not receive them into our Lungs with every breath we draw Whence proceed the

Quinfies,

xxii INTRODUCTION.

Quinfies, Coughs, and other complaints, which prevail in Autumn ?

I am not here to inquire into their noxious or falutary effects, when received into our Lungs ; yet it cannot furely be amifs, to drop this ftiort hint to thofe whofe province it is to make fuch inquiries.

Stannary t near Halifax, October i6, 1790.

FILICES BRITANNIC^.

PART THE SECOND.

6o

FELICES

B R I T A N N I C iE.

E U I S E T U M.

L in, Gen. Plan. 1169.

E Q^U I S E T U M fylvadcum.

Lin, Sp, PI, 1516. Flo. Ang. 44-7- Scot. 664. Cant, 38'3. Ray Syn, 131. Ger. Em. 1114. Park. 1201.

FA B. XX XI IP

WOOD HORSETAIL.

■fTROM a brown, jointed, fibrous, tough, creeping root, the fertile fhoots begin to appear about the end of March, or beginning of April. Thefe fhoots at their firfl; appearance are of a dark rufty-brown colour on the outfide, which is compofed of feveral vaginae, of a thin filmy fub- ftance, and lie over one another in an imbricated order ; each feparate vagina is divided in three or four dents at the rim, and marked with about twelve ftriae at the bafe, as at b. From the uppermoft of thefe vaginas the flower fpike appears ; it is of an oval or oblong figure, confifts of numerous hexangular fhields, clofe thruft together, their upper or naked part of a pale brown colour, and a fmooth furface. As it advances in growth, thefe fhields feparate, and the feminal valves under each fhield are librated, and difcharge the feeds in form of a foft, downy, bluifh powder. By this time the ftem has attained the height of eight or ten inches ; it is of a fmooth furface, and a pale-green colour. The fecond leaves make their firfl: appearance like little teeth, in a circle, round the bafe of the uppermoft vagina, as expreffed in the Plate at a ; where I have fhewn them at the bafe of the third vagina. When this firfl: cir- cle has made fome progrefs in growth, another circle begins to appear in like manner, at the bafe of the fecond vagina, and thus proceeds downwards, as is expreffed in the fhoot a, Lab, 34,

The

FELICES

BRITANNIC .E.

6i

The fecond leaves are jointed, and have vaginae at the joints ; from the bafe of which vagina the third leaves are produced, three or four from each joint.

Thefe third leaves, like the firft and fecond, are jointed and vagina- ted ; and, in fome luxuriant fpecimens, I have feen fourth leaves of a fimilar ftrudure.

BARREN LEAVES, Fig, c.

Thefe fpring from different parts of the fame ro6t, which produces the fertile ones, and like thofe are at firft wholly covered with vaginae, but are readily diftinguifhed from them, by being much fmaller, and of a pale, dufky, green colour.

From the uppermoft vagina, the rudiments of the fecond leaves make their firft appearance, in form of a clofe, rough, pale-green, tapering fpike.

The vaginae are green, except at the point, where they are divided in four brown dents, as in the fertile fhoots \ but in this they are fmaller, and embrace the ftem more clofely than in that.

The fecond leaves are about twelve in number, produced in circles from the bafe of the vaginae, each having a proper, brown, fhort, tri- dentate vagina, at its bafe ; they are quadrangular, jointed, and have quadridentate vaginae, from the bafe whereof grow the third leaves, three or four at a joint, and are of the fame ftrublure with the fecond. A full grown fecond leaf is feen in the Plate, at d.

It grows in wet^ fandy foils,, in woods and meadows about Halifax^ abundantly.

EQJJISETUM

62

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC iE.

E QJJ I S E T U M arvenfe.

Lin. Sp. PI 1516. Flo. Angl. 44-7. Scot. 647. Cant. 344. Ray Syn. 130. Ger. Em. 1114. Park. 1202.

Lab. XXXIV.

CORN HORSETAIL.

^■| "'HE root is of a dark brown or blackifh colour, jointed at equal diftances, emits numerous black fibres from the joints, and creeps to a great diftance under the furface.

The fertile fhoots at make their appearance about the end of March ; the flowering fpike being at hrft hidden under the brown im- bricated vagina ; when the fpike firfi: appears it is of a greenifh colour, afterwards changes to brown, and when at maturity the valves open, and difcharge a pale coloured downy powder, which is the feed.

The flem is round, fmooth, hollow, and of a pale pleafant brown, it confifts of feven or eight joints, each furrounded by the bafe of a fuf- cous vagina, which is a little inflated, and divided at the top in about twelve narrow, pointed, brown fegments. This flem very rarely produ- ces any fecond leaves ; it generally falls and difappears before the appear- ance of the barren leaves.

BARREN LEAVES.

The barren leaves, b, appear in April, and grow from the fame roots as the fertile ones ; at their firfl coming up the fecond leaves are hidden under the vagina, but foon make their appearance in about twelve fhort whirls, and form the refemblance of a rough fpike. When full grown it is about two feet high from the root to the top, and confifls of fifteen or

twenty

L

• «

*

u

■m

V’ ■■ '

Y

nb

4it

\

’ ''■'•/■ft

t: .li

\

tr

FELICES BRITANNIC^. 63

twenty joints ; five or fix of which joints are deftitute of fecond leaves, but are, as well as the reft, furrounded each with a vagina, not inflated as in the fertile fhoot, but clofeiy embracing the ftem ; they are of a pale-green colour, and each is divided in about twelve black acute points at the margin.

The fecond leaves grow from the bafe of the vagina, at the joints of the firft leaf ; each has a pale-coloured, pellucid, quadridentate, proper vagina, at its bafe ; each confifts of eight or ten joints, quadrangular, with quadridentate vaginas at each joint. In the fpecimen before me, the firft leaf confifts of fixteen joints, five of which, from the root, produce no fecond leaves ; at the fixth the leaves are fhorter than at the feventh, and grow gradually a little longer upwards to the tenth, from whence they diminifh to the top, where they are fliorteft.

The barren leaves in this plant fo nearly refemble thofe of the Equifetum paluftre, in fome ftages, that they are not eafily diftinguifhed at firft fight ; but may at all times be known by this remark. That the fecond leaves in the arvenfe are quadrangular, and the vaginae quadriden- tate ; but in the paluftre they are pentangular and quinquidentate.

The fertile (hoots of this fpecies cannot be diftinguifhed from thofe of the Equifetum fylvaticum, before the fecond leaves appear, except by the number of lafcinas into which the vaginae are divided, in the firft: being twelve, in the laft three or lour.

It grows in fhady moift places about woods and rivulets, and flowers in April.

N

E QJJ I S E T U’M

64

FELICES

BRITANNIC^.

E Q^U I S E T U M paluftre.

PL 151^* P^o, AngL 448. Scot» 648. Cant^ 384. Ray Syn. i3i» 5. Fig, 3. Far, b. Ger* Em, 1113. Park, 1202.

FAB, XXXV,

MARSH HORSETAIL.

^'^HE root is flender, black, jointed, and creeping ; emitting black hard fibres from the joints.

The fertile fhoots are fiender, and of a frefh green ; they are eight or ten inches high, and confifi of feven or eight joints, furrounded with vaginse ; two or three of the loweft of which are wholly black, the others green, except the top, which terminates in feven or eight black acute dents, with white filmy margins.

The uppermofi; vagina, which is placed immediately under the fpike, is* longer than any of the red, and is divided in very long, fiender, black dents.

The fiower fpikes are fmaller than in any of the other fpecies, black at firft, but pale-coloured when full grown ; the feminal valves being white, and difeharging a pale-coloured powder.

The firft leaves produce fecond leaves at the bafe of the vagina, which grow eredt, each having a proper black vagina at its bafe ; they

,are

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

6S

are unequal in length, conlifting of an uncertain number of pentangular joints, with quinquidentate black vaginae at each joint.

BARREN LEAVES,

Thefe grow from the fame root with the fertile ones, and refembic them in fubftance and colour, but are taller and conhft of more numerous joints ; in a full grown plant, twenty or more ; and the fecond leaves are alfo longer and more numerous. One of the fecond leaves is a little magnified at a.

It grows in marfliy places, about brooks and woods. On the banks of the canal below Mear-Glough-Bottom^ near HalifaXy plentifully, along with the two former fpecies \ it fiowers iii May.

It is diftinguifiied from the Equifetum limofum, by being a lefier plant, by its fmall black root, by having fewer dents in the vagina, and in that the firfi leaves always produce fecondary ones about the joints ; but in the limofum they are frequently naked.

Sometimes the fecondary leaves are fertile, producing fmall fiower fpikes on their fummits, as figured by Dillenius, in Ray’s Synopfis, PL 5- Fig. 3.

I have feen the fecondary leaves fertile, but never, except in inftances where the primary fiower fpike had been bit, or accidentally broken off.

E QJJ I S E T U M

66

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC iE,

E C^U I S E T U M fluviatile.

Sp, PL 1517. Flo, Ang. 44.8. Scot. 649. Cant. 385. Ray Syn, 130. Hall, Hijl, 1675. Ger. Em. 1113. Park. 1290.

It A B. XXXVI. XXXVII.

RIVER HORSETAIL.

T^ROM a jointed, black, fibrous, creeping root, as in the other fpecies, the fertile {boots, a. make their appearance in April ; they are at firfl: furrounded by large, rough, huhcy, imbricated, brown vaginae ; each di- vided in about twenty-four long, narrow, pointed, ruft-coloured feg- ments \ from the aippermofl; of thefe the flower fpike is produced.

The fhields at firft are fmooth, clofely compaded together, and of a brown colour.

The fpikes, when full grown, are three inches long, and of a pro- portionable thicknefs ; the feminal valves are white, and when the fpike is in full blow it makes an elegant appearance.

The fertile ftems, A, grow about a foot high, and confift of eight or nine vaginated joints, but produce no fecond leaves.

BARREN

FELICES

BRITANNIC^.

BARREN LEAVES.

The barren leaves, T^ab. 36, B. and Tab, 37, are entirely covered by the vagina, till they attain the height of ten or twelve inches ; in this Rate they are of a mixed brown and green colour, terminating in an acute point at top, and, by the numerous divilions of the vaginse, feem as if fur rounded with a rough, hairy, or briflly covering.

From the joints, towards the top of the ftem, the fecond leaves firft make their appearance in clofe circles round the bafe of each vagina, as Fig, B. Fab, 26. Each circle is furrounded at its bafe by the brown lafcinae of the vagina next below it.

The fecond leaves when full grown. Fab. 37, are quadrangular, five or fix inches long, and grow about thirty in a circle ; each confifts of feven or eight joints, with black vaginae, and having a proper brown va- gina, fupported by a black fcale at its bafe. b, the proper vagina, a, the black fcale. Fab. 37.

The barren leaves, in a proper foil, rife to the height of five or fix feet, and when frefh and full grown are very elegant. The figure. Fab, 37, reprefents four joints of the firft leaf, with three circles of fecond leaves, and, I think, gives a better idea of the plant, than could have been conveyed by giving a whole figure, fo much reduced in fize, as to bring it into the compafs of my plate.

Grows in marftiy places, and about the borders of rivers. The fpe-= cimens from which I took the figures, were fent me, in a frefh ftate, by my obliging friend Mr. Edward Robfon, of Darlington.^ in the county of Durham,

E Qjy I S E T U M

68

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

E Q^U I S E T U M limofum.

Sp, PL 1517. Fio. Ang, 448. Scot. 648. Cant. 385. Ray Syn. 13 1. Fab. 5, Fig. 2. Hall. Hifi. 1677.

t A B. XXXVIU.

SMOOTH HORSETAIL.

^^HE root, A, is large, tough, branched, jointed, and vaginated ; it ^ is of a rufty brown colour, and creeps horizontally under the mud.

The young fhoots appear in April, and are covered with brown ruft- coloured vagina ; each of which is divided in twelve or fourteen black acute dents, at the top. The fpaces between the vaginas are of a pale green, and fmooth furface.

In the full grown plant, the vaginas change to a pale green, retaining only a faint tinge of brown near the bafe of the dents, which ftill remain black. The uppermoR vagina of the fertile leaf is paler, more large, more lax, and the black dents longer than in the reft ; and the Rem above it, which fupports the flower fpike, is white.

The fhields, which compofe the flower fpike, are at firR black, and clofe thruR together ; when the fpike opens, the feminal valves are of a pale colour, and copioufly difcharge a white powder.

The

68

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

E I S E T U M limofum.

Sp, Pi. 1517. Flo. Ang. 448. Scot, 648. Cant, 385. Ray Syn, 1 3 1. Fab, 5. Fig, 2. Hall, Hijl, 1677.

TAB, XXXFIII,

SMOOTH HORSETAIL.

^T^HE root, A, is large, tough, branched, jointed, and vaginated ; it ^ is of a rufty brown colour, and creeps horizontally under the mud.

The young fhoots appear in April, and are covered with brown ruft- coloured vagina ; each of which is divided in twelve or fourteen black acute dents, at the top. The fpaces between the vaginae are of a pale green, and fmooth furface.

In the full grown plant, the vaginae change to a pale green, retaining only a faint tinge of brown near the bafe of the dents, which flill remain black. The uppermoR vagina of the fertile leaf is paler, more large, more lax, and the black dents longer than in the reft ; and the Rem above it, which fupports the flower fpike, is white.

The fhields, which compofe the flower fpike, are at firR black, and clofe thruR together ; when the fpike opens, the feminal valves are of a pale colour, and copioufly difcharge a white powder.

The

I

38^'

t

I

BRITANNIC^.

F I L I C E S

69

The fertile leaves conhfl: of fewer joints than the barren, and fome- imes produce a few fecond leaves at the bafe of the vaginae.

BARREN LEAVES,

The barren leaf which is cut into three parts, in the plate. Fig, B, ifes from the fame root as the fertile leaf, and conhfts, when full grown, f twenty-fix or thirtyjoints, rifes to the height of three feet or more, > of a frefh green colour, and fmooth furface, while young ; when dry, ecomes channelled, with twelve or fourteen furrows. The joints are lofely embraced by the vaginae, while the plant is frefh j when dry, the :em is contraded, the vaginae are lax, and fpread out at the margin.

The firft leaves are moft commonly fimple and naked, as at B ; but )metimes one or two branches rife from the lower joints, as at C ; which ranches are of the fame flrudlure as the firfi: leaf or principal ftem.

The firfi leaves alfo fometimes produce proper fecond leaves, D, from le bafe of the upper vaginae ; two or three of thefe at a joint, fome- mes, though rarely, fix or feven ; they are unequal in length, jointed, entangular, and the joints furrounded with a black quinquidentate igina.

Grows in fhallow ponds and handing waters ; and flowers in May.

E QJJ I S E T U M

70

FELICES

BRITANNIC iE.

E Q^U I S E T U M hyemale.

Sp* PL 15^7* AngL 448. Scot. 650. Cant. 385. Ray Syn,

131, Hall. Hiji* 1679. Ger. Em. 1113. Park. 1207.

A B. XXXIX.

ROUGH HORSETAIL.

^^HE root is black, hard, tough, jointed, creeping, and. emitting black, tough, hard fibres from the joints.

The fertile {hoots, at their firft appearance, are clubbed at the top, by reafon of the flower fpike, which is wrapped np in the uppermoft vagina.

This uppermoft vagina is divided, at the margin, in twelve or four- teen pointed dents or fegments ; whereas all the other vaginae terminate in very fhort, blunt, black dents.

The {hields, in the flower fpike, are clofely thruft together, and black at firft ; when the flowers are blown, the feminal valves are white, and difcharge a bluifh foft powder.

The full grown ftem is about twenty-four inches high, confifting of nine or ten joints, the remoteft of them about three inches afunder ; and

each

F I L I C E S

B R.I T A N -N I C

71

each furrounded with a fhort lax vagina, black at the bafe and margin, but of a pale green in the middle.

The fp aces between the joints are of a ftrong bluifli green, channelled with twelve or fixteen furrows, and having alternate ridges, which are armed with hard, fhort, rough fpines, regularly placed in one line, along each ridge, as is expreffed at b ; where a vagina, a, and part of the ftem are magnified.

- 4

The fiem, as in the other fpecies, confifis of a number of fiftular tubes, which are bound together by an external and internal bark, and form one general fiftular tube. In this fpecies the inner bark is fmooth and white.

The barren leaves in this fpecies are not to be diftinguifhed from the fertile in any thing, but the want of frudification, and in their upper extremities terminating in a fine point.

Both the one and the other are moft commonly fimple, but fometimes emit one or two branches from the lower joints, as is exprefled in the alate. Thefe are of the fame figure and ftrudlure as the primary leaves, anly fmaller, and confifting of fewer joints.

This fpecies is diftinguifhed by the fhort obtufe dents of the vaginse, ay the remotenefs of the joints, by the roughnefs of the touch, and by aeing an evergreen.

The only places where I have feen it grow, are amongft the bufhes dofe by the brook at the lower end of the Helk^ near Ingleton ; and in L field, belonging to an eftate called Upper Brier, in Northowram, near Halifax,

P

PILUL ARIA.

72

FILICES BRITANNIC iE.

P I L U L A R I A.

Liin. Gen, Flan, 1183.

P I L U L A R I A globulifera.

Bp, PL 1653. Flo, Ang, 462. Scot, 682. Ray Syn, 130. F'ail. Paris, Tab, 15. Fig, 6. Dill, Mufc, Fab, 79, Fig, i. Flo, Dan, Tab, 223.

H A B, XL,

PEPPER GRASS.

“tT 7HAT has been called the root in this plant, may perhaps not im- properly be termed the firft leaf, or main ftem of the plant. It creeps on the furface of the ground, in various winding diredlions, is of a brownilh-green colour, having knots or joints at diftances.

At each knot of the creeping ftem, the roots, confifting of three or four ftrong white fibres, run down into the moift fand, among which it grows ; and at the fame knots or joints, on the upper fide of the ftem, the fecond leaves are produced, two or three together. While young they are coiled up in a clofe curl, like moft other of the ferns; when full grown they are about three inches long of a frefti green colour ; each

one

11 J	I y i ,|| B H
	1/	1 /	1 1 1
	' Bkj^^ B/J		1 ll
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FELICES

BRITANNIC^.

73

one having a brown, duiky, granulated line, on the inner fide ; which is the male flower.

On the creeping ftem, in the centre of thefe tufts of leaves, the feed-veflels are produced ; they are about the flze of a pepper-corn, and of the fame figure ; at firft green ; when at full growth of a brown colour, and covered with a fhort hairy fliagginefs , they are divided into four cells, and filled with fmall, brown, globular feeds. When the plant dries it changes to a brownifh colour.

Grows in wet fands, in places fometimes overflowed with frefli water. It grows in feveral parts of Wales^ and, as is faid, on Honjlow- Heath ; and is in perfed:ion in July,

I S O E T I S.

74

FELICES

BRITANNIC iE.

E T I S.

Lin, Gen Flan, 1184,

I S O E T I S lacuftris.

Bp, PL 15^3* 462. Scot, 683. Dan. 191, Ray Syn,

306. Dill. Mufc. ‘Tab, 80. Fig. 2.

t: A B. XLI.

Q^U ILL WORT.

root confifts of numerous ftrong, white, round fibres, which are connected together under the bafe of the leaves, and defcend deep into the mud, at the bottom of lakes.

The leaves grow eight or ten from the fame root, are four or five inches long, flat or plain on the infide, round or gibous on the outfide ; each confifts of feveral fiftular tubes, flender, and imbedded in a fofc fpongy fubftance. Thefe tubes are furniihed with fmall diafragms, at certain diftances, and are furrounded with one common, fmooth, pale- green cover ; and thus the leaf is confl;ru6ted. When newly taken out of the water, it is pellucid ; and, if viewed between the eye and the

F I L I C E S

BRITANNIC^.

75

light, the diafragms, in the internal fmall tubes, may be ealily dif- cerned.

The outer leaves are greatly fwollen and dilated at the bafe, as at a, b, c ; where the fruftification is lodged. The ftile and ftigma are placed in the hollow part of the bafe of the outer leaves ; the germin is fup- parted by a cordate valve, or flower-cup, as at e ; and the edges of the inflated bafe, of thefe outer or female leaves, is a thin fine membrane, which fo clofely embraces and lurrounds the gibous part of the male leaf within as to exclude the water*

The inner or male leaf, b, opens on the outer or gibous fide of the bafe, within the embraces of the female leaf. Its frudlification confifts of a roundifh anthera, without filament ; and it refts on a cordate valve or flower-cup, fimilar to that of the female. By the above admirable contrivance, the two flowers come in near contact with each other, and, though in the bottom of deep lakes, are fecured from the intrufion of the water.

The feed-veflcl is of an oblong form, confifting of two valves, filled with white globular feeds ; each of which is girt round with a prominent ring, as at d. After the difcharge of the feeds, the outer leaves fall off and perifli, and the next in erder perform the fame office a fucceeding year ; and the number of leaves is kept up by a fupply of young ones from the centre.

Grows in lakes on high mountains. I have dragged it out of feveral lakes on Snowden^ and it has been fent me from IV efi7noreland.

A N

( 76 )

A N

A	P P	E	N D I	X
		T 0	THE
FIRST	PART of	this	HISTORY of	FERNS.

ACROSTICHUM. Parti. Page 21.

ACROSTICHUM alpinum.

Frondihus fuhbipinnatis^ pinnis remotis fubalternis^ lobis rotundis fub- crenatis fubtus hirfutus^ flipite Icevi. Pluk, Phyt, Fab, 89. Fig* 5* Barrelier Icon, 432. Fig, 2,

r A B, XLII.

ALPINE ACROSTICHUM.

The root of this little Acroftichum conlifts of a few black, hard branches, connected to a fmall head, and furniihed with black, hard, capillary fibres.

The rib of the firft leaf, when full grown, is about three inches high, of a pale, brownifh-green colour, flender and fmooth, being quite deflitute of hairs.

Second leaves, fix or feven pairs, oppofite below, alternate above, of a triangular figure, obtufe at the corners ; three or four of the lowefl: pairs being all of equal fize, and remote ; two or three of the upper gradually lefiening, and growing clofer together.

Lobes

APPENDIX. 77

Lobes of the fecond leaves moil commonly five ; two on each fide of the ribj and one at the end ; they are of a roundifii figure, grow clofe to- gether, and are obfcurely crenated round the margin. The colour on the upper fide is a brownifii kind of green j the imderfide thickly covered with a brown hairy nap.

The lower figure reprefents one of the fecond leaves, as it appeared when a little magnified ; the feed veflels are difpofed in three or four clufters, on each lobe, partly hidden amongfl; numerous, firong, brown, hair-like filaments, by which alfo the whole under fide of the leaf, quite to the margin, is thickly covered.

The fpecimen above defcribed is very exadlly figured on plate 42, and is a plant fo perfedly diftind from the Acroftichum ilvenfe, in its ufual ftate, that it feems to me unreafonable to fuppofe them both of the fame fpecies.

The Acrofiichum ilvenfe, defcribed in the former part of this work, page 14, and accurately figured on plate 9, was brought from Snowden. Oeder^ in Flora Danica^ has given an excellent figure of the fame plant. Tab. 391. And the figure in Pluk. Phyt. Tab. 179, Fig. 4, (which is cited by Linnseus, in Flo. S'uecica^ Ed. 2. JVo. 938,) agrees pretty aptly with both Oeder\ and my own : But are all very difterent from the Acroftichum alpinum above defcribed.

The fpecimen figured on plate 42, was brought from Scotland^ but the plant is alfo a native of South-Britain ; for in a volume of dried plants, collected by the late Mr. T. Knowlton, I have feen fpecimens of the fame plant, with this note, in his own hand writing, From the Mountains of Wales, From thefe, and fome other circumftances, I am induced to think, that two fpecies of Britifh Ferns have been confounded together, under the name of Acroftichum ilvenfe ; and I believe that future obfervation will confirm the truth nov/ difcovered.

ACROSTICHUM

78 APPENDIX.

ACROSTICHUM thelypteris.

Sp, PL 1528. Flo, Suecica. Ed. 2. 928. LoheL Icon. 814. Filix;

^uerna repens. Park, 1041.

r A B. XLIII. XLIV.

LADIES’ ACROSTICHUM.

^T^HE root creeps horizontally under the furface of the ground, is of a black colour and brittle fubftance, crooked, and about the thick- nefs of a duck’s quill ; it emits many branches, the lize of fmall pack- thread, which are hung round with numerous, dark brown, capillary fibres.

From the root, as it creeps along, the firft leaves rife at difiances, two or three near together. The rib is from nine to fifteen inches high, fmooth and naked, very {lender, and of a pale herby colour.

The fecond leaves from ten to fifteen pairs, oppK)fite, except one or two of the lowefi pairs ; lov/er pairs remote, growing gradually clofer upwards, longeft about the middle pair, all of them lance-fhaped, and placed nearly at right angles with the rib of the firfi leaf.

Lobes of the fecond leaves ten or twelve pairs, divided down to the nerve \ they are broad, fiiort, rounded off at the extremity, and quite fmooth and entire on the edges ; their upper furface fmooth and plain, not obvioufiy marked with veins, as in the Polypodium thelypteris ; this circumfiance, together with its creeping root, and its being a much

fmaller

^5

APPENDIX. 79

Imaller plant, are fufficient at all times to diftinguilli it from that ; though a refemblance in habit and external appearance has caufed the two fpecies to be confounded together. This, however, could not have hap- pened, had a ftridl regard been had to the fructification in both.

In the Polypodium thelypteris, the feed-veffels are arranged in clofe regular lines, along the margin of the lobes ; at firft of a pale colour, changing brown in the progrefs ; and, after the difcharge of the feeds, fpread out in breadth fo as to occupy the whole difk, except the middle only ; this, however, is not always the cafe, for in fome fpecimens the lines remain diftinCt and feparate to the laft ; and in thofe moft effectually covered, the difpofition and arrangement of the feed-veffels, in marginal lines, remain vifible.

But in the fpecimen of Acroflichum thelypteris now before me, which is in a middle ftate of growth, and is accurately figured, T'ab, 43, Fig, a, fome of the feed-veffels are vifible, as is expreffed at Fig, c ; they are fmall, white, and placed irregularly on each fide of the nerve ; fome are further advanced in growth than others ; and the whole difk, when a little magnified, appears befet with fmall tubercles, under which other feed-veffels, yet in embrio, are lodged.

In the full grown plant, of which two fecond leaves are figured, Tab\ 44, on Plate 45, the whole under fide, except the margin only, is clofely covered with fmall feed-veffels, and they originate in every part of the difk, as in the genus Acroflichum, not in regular lines or rows, as in Polypodium, Fig. a. in Tab. 44, is a fingle lobe magnified.

The barren leaves. Fig. b, were in a flate of half growth in the fpe- cimens I examined ; after the decay and fall of the fecond leaves, the rib of the firft leaf turns brown, and abides on the root over winter.

R

POLYPODIUM

So

APPEND

I

X.

POLYPODIUM. Parti. Page 32.

POLYPODIUM rhceticum.

Sp. PL 1552. Ray Syn. 124. Pluk. Phyt. Tab. 89. Fig. 4.

r A B. XLV.

RHETIAN POLYPODY.

T’ HE root of this plant, I have not had an opportuny of oh- ferving.

In the fpecimen before me, the height of the frons^ or firft leaf, is about twelve inches ; the rib is of a pale colour, furrowed on the upper fide, covex or rounded on the under ; is more flout, and much lefs brittle than that of the Polypodium fragile.

The fecond leaves are about twelve pairs, placed alternately, very re- mote below, growing gradually nearer each other upwards, but are diflimfl quite to the top ; they are placed at an acute angle with the middle rib.

The third leaves are divided, down to the nerve, into about three pairs of diflin<fl lobes, of an oval figure, fliarply and diflincflly ferrated about the edges.

Thofe third leaves which grow on the upper fide of the rib of the fecond leaf, are larger than thofe which grow on the lower ; by which character alone the fpecies is at once diflinguiflied from the Polypodium fragile, with fome varieties of which it has been confounded.

The inequality of fize in the upper and lower third leaves, is mofl obvious in the firfl pair j for in fome of the upper pairs, the triple di-

vifion

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APPENDIX. 8i

vifion ceafes, and the fecond leaf terminates in diftindf, fliarply ferrated lobes.

The feed-vefFels are placed in round dots, on the under fide of the lobes ; two or three on the fmaller, five or fix on the larger ; they are of a brown colour, and diftind:. The whole plant is larger, firmer, more robuft, and of a ftronger green than the Polypodium fragile.

The Poly podium fragile in fome of its ftates, fee part i, page 51, fo nearly refembles the Polypodium rhoeticum, that others, as well as myfelf, have been deceived by it. Hallar, Wais, &c. feem to doubt its exiftence ; and it appears from their defcriptions, that they had not ex- amined the true Polypodium rhceticum ; no more had I, otherwife fo obvious a charader as the inequality of fize in the third leaves, on the oppolite fides of the rib of the fecond leaf, could not have been difre- garded.

In my plate of varieties. Pari i. Tab. 2, thofe of the Polypodium fragile not being lufficiently exprefTed, at the inftance of feveral friends, I have added TAB. XLVI ; in which I have carefully copied thefe varieties. For on the two ftems given in the plate, by varying the fecond leaves, as I found them in feparate fpecimens, I have reprefented all thofe varieties which have been fuppofed mofl to refemble the Polypodium rhoeticum.

Specimens of Polypodium rhceticum and Acroflichum thelypteris were fent me by my friend Dickfon, author of the Plantarum Crypto- gamicarum Britannice ; the firft he gathered in Scotland.^ the laft, he in- forms me, grows in plenty about Norwich.

XRRATA IN THE FIRST PART.

Introduction, p. fi, I. 17, /or fupine r. prone. — P. j6, J. 3. r. Aiiglica. In the Book, p. 5, 1. 3. r. and when the feeds are

difcharged.— P. 4.0, I. 2, 3, erafeGfix. Em. &Park. — P.41, l.i, tab. 22. — P.41, 1. 3, erafe from this, and the reft of the fen- tence. — P. 51, 1. 15, erafe this is, aud the reft of the f entente -fame line, after add x.7do, throughout the Book, for

Polipodium r, Polypodium,

INDEX to the SECOND PART.

LATIN.	Page.	ENGLISH.	Page.
A Croftichum alpinum jljL. Acroftichum thelypteris	76	A LPINE Acroftichum AjL. Brittle Polypodium, Varieties	76
78	81
Equifetum arvenfe	62	Corn Horfetail	62
Equifetum fluviatile	66	Ladies’ Acroftichum	78
Equifetum hyemale	70	Marfli Horfetail	64
Equifetum limofum	68	Pepper Grafs	72
Equifetum paluftre	64	Quill Wort	74
Equifetum fylvaticum	60	Rhctian Polypody	80
Ifoetis lacuflris	74	River Horfetail	66
Pilularia globulifera	72	Rough Horfetail	70
Polypodium rhceticum	80	Smooth Horfetail	68
Polypodium fragile, Var,	81	Wood Horfetail	60

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