THE MOUNTAIN BUCKLER FERN 
ceolate, much tapered below as well as upwards, pinnate. Pinn opposite or alternate, numerous ; th 
‚wer ones more distant, obtusely triangular; those higher up gradually lengthening till about the 
middle of the frond, where they are lincar-lanceolate, or rather broadest at the baso tapering to а long 
narrow point; the upper ones again aro shorter, but also narrower ; all are deeply pinnatiid. Lobes 
metimes slightly faleate, the basal ones longest 
flat, oblong, obtuse, entire, or occasionally cronated, 
Venation of the lobes consisting of a flexuous midvein, producing alternate сели, which are 
Fructifcation on the back of the fronds, and most abundant on the upper half: Sori moderate 
sized, circular, produced near the ends of the venules, and forming a submarginal series, often 
confluent, sometimes without indusia. Zndusiun small, thin, ў evanescent. Sp 
numerous, brown, obovate. Spores roundish or oblong, muriculato 
Duration. The caudex is perennial. The fronds are only annual, growing up in spring about Мау, 
and becoming destroyed by the autumnal fr 
so distin 
‘This fragrant Fern may be at o uished by its balsamic seent ; by the short lower pinna 
which exte 
1 down almost to the caudex of the pinnato-pinnatifid, marginally dot-fruited fronds; and 
by the latter in tufts, The indusi and are sometimes wantin 
but the species is too el ‚racensis for example, to permit of 
ly allied to other genuine Lastreas, Za 
its sep 
ation from the genus 0 sod, such frivolous distinctions are 
this peculiarity. Im 
always to be avoided. 
ugh so common a species in some localities it is not one which readily submits to cultivation, 
and many have been the failures of those who have attempted its domestication. We are indebted to 
Mr. Wollaston for a suggestion which has enabl 
lus to attain greater success than usual, and which 
quite in accordance with observations subsequently made in its wild localities. Mr. Wollast 
plan is to pot or plant in pure loam, and to keep this soil wet through the winter, when the plants 
are potted, this being done by keeping а feeder full of water constantly beneath them. Probably а 
constant supply from a syphon, allowing the superfluous quantity to overflow, so that there might I 
constant change go 
ng on, would bea still better arrangement ; it would at least assimilate more 
actly with the е 
reolation which must be g 
in its native hills, There is no difficulty 
in securing a supply of the pl 
s in the localities where it occurs, where young seedling plants are 
most abundant 
Two curious varieties of this species have been observed, namely 
1. truncata (W.). This form was found near Tunbridge Wells, Kent, by Mr. Wollaston, It is a 
sity, and proves permanent under cultivation. Tl 
very few exceptions, those of the pinnæ also, are abrupt, and the end of the midvein projects nearly 
а quarter of an inch beyond the pinnules, giving the p 
he appearance of having been eaten off in 
a uniform manner by some mollusk, The graceful ой 
pect of the plant are quite destroyed, 
In all other respects this variety resembles the normal plant 
2. смара (М). In this the pinnules are undulated or wavy, so that the frond has a crispy 
appearance, Tt was found by Dr. Balfour, on the Clova mountains, 
