One is almost tempted to follow the example of the early writers of botanical works and to say that the plant is so well known that “it needeth no description.” However, such a fine Fern, common though it be, is certainly as worthy of a notice as any species within the covers of this book. A very characteristic feature of the Male Fern is its stout and sometimes very upright stem or caudex. In some plants this is at times so large that it almost resembles a short trunk. It will readily be seen that the leaves arise from the outside of the crown of the plant, whilst at the base of the stalks occur the fibrous roots. Within the circle of the developed leaves we may find the immature fronds; the least advanced of these may not develop for three years. The crown of the plant, as well as the stipes and the rachis, are more or less covered with brown scales. The length of the fronds of the Male Fern vary enormously. In a favourable situation the leaves may measure as much as three feet or more, though an average example would be a good deal less than this. A well-developed plant should show six or more finely developed fronds arranged cup-fashion round the central stem. The shape of the leaf of the Male Fern is roughly lanceolate, broadest in the middle and tapering at each end. The frond is bi-pinnate, and the pinnæ are long and taper to a fine point. The pinnules are rather blunt, and frequently show serrated edges. The upper portion of the frond is pinnatifid, and in many of the higher pinnæ it is only the pinnules nearest to the rachis that are distinct. Practically all the fronds are fertile, though the sori occur chiefly on the upper portions of the leaves. The brown patches are to be found arranged in a single line on either side of the central vein of the pinnules. The sorus is circular and is covered with an indusium which is notched or kidney-shaped. In the early days the indusium is of a lead colour, but as the sporangia ripen underneath the brown colouring shows through the thin covering. The foliage of the Male Fern is of a bright green tint, changing to a duller shade as the leaves become older. Not uncommonly the fronds last in good condition through a large part of the winter when the season is mild. It is now recognized that the Male Fern may be divided into three sub-species. These are called _N. filix-mas_ (_true_), _N. pseudo-mas_, and _N. propinqua_. The differences are not very obvious to the beginner, but it is said that the first named is only partially deciduous—the fronds lying prostrate during the winter. In the case of _N. pseudo-mas_, the fronds are of a leathery nature, and the plant is practically evergreen in sheltered positions. A well-established feature of _N. propinqua_ is that the foliage completely dies away in the autumn.