Of Oke Ferne / Petie Ferne / or Pilde Osmunde. Chap. lxiij.
THere is now a dayes found two kindes of Dryopteris, or Oke Ferne, the one is white, the other swarte, the which are not much vnlike one another.
❀ The Description.
[ 1] THE white kinde of Dryopteris, and the male, are not muche vnlyke, but it is much smaller, and not exceeding a spanne in height and lyke∣wise it beareth neither stalke, flowers, nor sede. The leau•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 white, with great and deepe incisions and cuttes, snipt rounde about with smaller and thicker snips or iagges, then the leaues of mal•• Ferne, and it hath also smal spottes or markes vnderneath the leafe. The ro•…•…s th•…•…e and blac∣kish, with many litle rootes, twisted, pressed, and enterlaced one with another.
The blacke Dryopteris, hath the stalke or stemme of his leaues blacke, the leaues brownish, the whiche are neyther so large, nor yet so long, neyther so muche creuished or snipt, as the leaues of the white Dryopteris, but in al other partes like, and it is beset also with litle markes or spottes vnderneath. The leaues of this kind do not perish nor fade in winter, but continue greene all the yere.
❀ The Place.
[ 2] Both kindes of Dryopteris grow in holowe wayes, in shadowy and coue∣red places, in the foote or rootes of Okes, that be aged, and of many yeres con∣tinuance: but yet they are not to be founde in all places.