THE CRESTED BUCKLER F 
RN. 
treated all three as forms of one species; and that they have a clo 
natural affinity which separates 
them from the forms of Z. dilatata, we have no doubt whatever, however similar to the latter, in some 
cases, may be the degree and mode of division in the fronds. "Thei 
inity is evidenced by marks far 
more important t 
an those to be derived from such inconstant characters as are the outline or division 
of the fronds: namely, by the creeping 
des, by the sparse and pallid broad appressed scales, and 
у 1 Г 
by the erect narrow fronds, and entire indusia, in all which they agree. In these points they 
differ more or less obviously, and in the case of the first-named absolutely, from the dilatata group. 
Without at all disturbing the convietion which led us to regard these plants as varieties of one species, 
we however propose here, in deference to the more commonly received opinion, to treat of Z. spinulosa 
separately 
The La: 
rea uliginosa of Newman (Prate ХХ.) we must still regard as a variety of L., eristata, 
the only marked difference, in truth, being that its earlier fertile fronds have the pinnules more 
asly lobed and toothed 
acute, and more eonspiew and that the d 
poney in size between the anterior 
and posterior basal pinnules is a degree more manifest. It has a stout decumbent caudex, and erect 
lincar-lanccolate fronds, two to four feet high, and bipinnate at the base of the pinna. Three kinds of 
fronds are borne by the plants, but they are not all simultaneous in their appearance, nor constantly 
produced; and though different they are not strikingly dissimilar, like the barren and fertile fronds of 
some other Ferns, The enrly fronds of the st 
nger crowns are fertile, and with them sometimes but 
теп, the latter 
not always appear others which are smaller and b 
m produced from small lateral 
crowns, but also so 
is from the same crown which produces the fertile ones; whilst later in the 
season other fronds with bı 
ader and blunter pinnules are borne, these being sometimes fertile, 
sometimes barren, Thus, the early barren fronds are small, spreading, pinnate, with decurrent oblong 
obtuse pinnules, and resemble small barren fronds of 
istata, ‘The summer fronds are also eristata-like 
large, with decurrent oblong obtuse pinnules, and very frequently fertile, ‘The fertile fronds produced 
in spring are more like spinulosa ; they grow quite erect, and are linear-lanceolate, bipinnate, the basal 
pinnules distinct, all the pinnae stalked, and set on so that their upper surface is turned towards the 
point of the frond. The pinna» are elongate triangular, the 
‚wor ones being shorter, broader, an 
oblique, the first posterior pinnule being an inch, the anterior one three-fourths of an inch long 
basal pinnules of the middle рішше are distinct, oblong, acute, pinnatifidly lobed, the lobes sharply 
rate with longish spinulose or arist the upper p 
anules are adnate and sharply and deeply 
serrate. The fructification extends over the whole frond, but is most copious towards the top, where it 
forms two lines near the midrib on the smaller pinnules, being confined to the anterior basal venules 
whilst it becomes confuse 
а the lan 
g produced in two series on the 
lobes, both anterior and posterior venules being there fertile, ‘The caudex branches sparingly. The 
fronds are said to appear several days earlier than those of Æ. eristata, but our cultivated plants have 
never shown any regularity in this respect, some plants preceding, others following Z. cristata, although 
all cireumstanced alike. We consider this plant more closely allied to Z. eristata than to La spinul 
because its vernation agrees more exactly with the former, and because neither its early barren fronds 
or its lat 
fertile ones can be certainly distinguished from analogous fronds of Z. eristata, whilst, on 
the other hand, n 
such erístata-like fronds are produced by L. spinulosa, ‘The special attention of 
English botani 
s was drawn to this plant by Mr. John Lloyd, a few years since ; and our figure is 
taken from a plant brought by him from Oxton bog, Nottinghamshire 
Both these Ferns grow readily in peaty soil, with abundant 
isture ; and though not remarkable 
for elegance, they are yet useful in 
rouping on account of their upright habit of growth. They are 
increased with tolerable facility by the separation of the lateral erowns when produced. 
‘The species and va 
occasional multifid variations. In both the varia 
tly in the division of the apices of the pinnze, rather than that of the apex of the frond, which is 
rarely affected. ‘They however do not rank as pr 
manent varieties. 
