edges of all the little divisions of its fronds furnished with
a line of spore-cases. No other of onr native species has
the fructification arranged in continuous lines except this
and the Blechnum; and the Pteris may be readily known
from that by the lines being in it confined to the margin,
leaving the centre unoccupied, while in Blechnum the margin
is unoccupied by the sori.
Pteris is a Greek name for a Pern, and is derived from
the word pteron, which signifies a feather; and, of course,
is here applied in reference to the graceful feather-like
aspect which the fronds of Perns generally possess. When
the plant is luxuriant this name is quite as applicable to the
Bracken as to any other known Pern. This consideration
is perhaps enough to justify the application to this species,
by the older writers, of the name of Pemale Pern, which,
scarcely seems appropriate to the commoner uncouth-look-
ing form which the plant more usually bears.
P t e r is a q u il in a , Linnmis.— The Common Brakes, or
Bracken. (Plate XYII. fig. 1.)
This Pern has a creeping caudex, and one that creeps
very extensively too, just beneath the surface of the soil,
though in some cases descending to a great depth perpendicularly;
it is recorded by Mr. Newman that he has found