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two linear sori, one on each side the midvein; these are distinct
while young, but soon become confluent, covering the
whole under-surface of the pinnæ. The indusia, by which
they are at first covered, hurst along that side towards the
midrib, and eventually become split across here and there,
at points opposite some of the venules.
The Hard Eern is a rather common plant, occurring in
heathy and stony places, and preferring localities which are
rather damp than otherwise. It is found in various parts
of Europe. In cultivation, it is a very suitable plant for
damp shady rock-work, and in such situations, planted
in peaty soil, it grows freely, and without requiring any
special attention.
The principal of its synonyms are— Lomaria Spicant,
Blechnum loreale, Osmunda Spicant, Asplenium Spicant,
Onoclea Spicant, Acrostichum Spicant, Struthiopteris Spicant,
and Osmunda lorealis.
Genus XV III. BOTEYCHIUM, Swartz.
This is called Moonwort, and is a small and very distinct
plant, easily known by two circumstances,—^first, it has two
fronds, or rather two branches of its frond, the one of which
is leafy, the other seedy ; and secondly, the pinnæ of the
leafy branch are crescent-shaped, with the outer margin
jagged. There is no other native plant which has. these
peculiar features, and hence the Moonwort is a plant very
easily recognized when it is met with. I t is rather local in
its range, but not scarce in the localities where it is found,
which are open heaths and pastures, rather dry than
otherwise. The spore-cases are collected into branched
clusters at the end of the fertile branch; the little branches
of the cluster are all turned one way, and the spore-cases
themselves are numerous and globular, and somewhat resemble
in the aggregate a miniature erect bunch of grapes.
There is a peculiarity in this Eern which also serves to
distinguish it, and its near ally the Ophioglossum, or Ad-
der’s-tongue, from all other native species—the venation
is straight, not circinate; that is, the fronds, before they
are developed, are not rolled up spirally, unrolling as they
expand, but in the incipient state the parts are merely
folded together by a flat surface. Only one species of
Botrychium is indigenous.
B o tr y ch ium L u n a r ia , Swartz.—The Moonwort. (Plate
X V III. fig. 2.)