ТНЕ LADY FERN. 
row readily in good 
The different forms of Lady Fern aro easily cultivated. All the larger ones gi 
ind shelter. "The 
light loamy or peaty soil, and like plenty of moisture, and for the most part shad 
y called erispum, and the smaller 
variety rluetienm perhaps prefers exposure 
mpness about the crowns in 
abnormal forms, are rather apt to sustain injury from too much confined dampness ab 
most beautiful of the larger 
winter. The species in its varied phases may be considered one of the 
deciduous native 
attempting to enumerate for the use of cultivators, as well as for the ini 
have not been always able to assign 
e many forms in which tho Lady Fern appears, w 
„diate forms tho one into the other. After, 
to them exact limits, for in many eases they pass by int 
however, having for several years given much attention to this subject, we have como to the 
morally believed. We 
conclusion that there is more of permanence and constancy among them than i 
have rediscovered several recognisable forms, but with an increase of vigour, in the same situations 
result of 
after a lapse of six or eight years, so that the variations in these eases were at least not 
age. We have removed others to the garden, and have not found them to vary beyond the acquisition 
of an increase of vigour under cultivation ; and we have removed plants of the less compound forms 
from the open air to a shady greenhouse, without inducing any change of habit, or producing 
thereby even an approximation to the more compound forms, On the other hand 
r ation; but we have had no opportunity of 
æticum especially, is reported to change under culi 
mting with this form, which, as far as servations go, owes its peculiar appea 
ances to its growing naturally in exposed wet 5 when removed to the shelter of a garden 
it по doubt becomes more lax, but even then we beliove it may be identified, Every part of the 
plant — the scales, the stipes, the outline and direction of the frond, the form, attachment, and 
direction of the pimules, and the size and position of the sori—is so liable to vary, that it is difficult to 
determine what peculiarities are of the highe ye varieties, and 
value in endeavouring to set limits to 
er all, much reliance must be placed on dif 
ences which the eye detects but which the pen fails to 
record. For this reason especially, few of the forms below enumerated are consi 
‚red to have any 
other botanical imp 
tance than that of proving the variabili 
of what aro called species, We have 
however, thou 
it better to notice all that were known to us, than to cast the most puzzling aside as 
“diseased or malformed or ‘not having any botanical existence.’ Тһе testing of the constancy ог 
inconstaney of the forms of such variable plants as the pr 
nt, with patience and perseverance under 
fair conditions of culture, is worthy the attention of those Fern-g 
rowers who have space for the 
experiments, The enumera 
on which follows, of the modifications of form occurring amo 
Lady Ferns, is enriched by many notes and memoranda from Mr, Wollaston 
1. confluens (ML). А very remarkable form, found by Mr. A. Tait, of Edinburgh, “in the seam ofa 
perpendicular rock, on the side of one of the pine-covered n 
intains near Dunkeld,” in 1853. It has а 
jd егесі appearance, The original fronds were about nine inches high, but the plant has 
not recovered th 
effects of its removal, which was effected with difficulty. The pinn are about an 
inch long, the basal pinnule distinet, with shallow two or three 
hed lobes, the rest crowded, 
confluent at the baso, pinnatifdly lobed, with distinct blunt 
seth, In the original fronds these 
influent pinnules were considerably reduced in size 
2. latifolium (Bab), Mr. Wollaston’s notes o 
this variety, already described above 
е fronds are ovate-lanceolate, subtripinnate, the lobes of ti 
id but thinly cloth 
© pinnules being eut almost to the 
midvein ; the stipes is short, а 
1 with seals. 
The pinnze are alternate, approximate 
ов the upper part of the fi 
d, distant below, lineartanecolate. ‘The pinnules, which are crowded 
and 
12, are stipitate, ovate, and deeply and irn 
опар 
and елу of cultivation, but retains its abnormal charactor best in the open ait 
3. marinum (М). Of this Mr. Wolke 
ws: This variety differs c 
