НЕ LADY FERN 
that in all the compound forms of Lady Fern the anterior basal lobes are longer than the rest; but 
what occurs in this variety is an exaggerated and more manifest elongation. 
17. rhatioum (in). "This in its normal state, as already stated, is peculiar on account of its narrow 
erect fronds, its ascending pinne, and linear-lanceolate pinnules, which are rendered still 
nore appa 
rently linear by the incurving of the points of the lobes, It has the prolonged anterior basal lobe. 
We have had no opportunity of testing the effect of growing this plant in shade, but we 
should suspect 
we to the Inst 
it would be to produce a resem amd this appears to be really the case, 
for we learn from Mr. Wollaston, that when grown as a pot plant in the greenhouse, it with 
the appearance of the less developed states of ineisum. The form is 
not uncommon in ex y places; and two or three states of it өсе 
т; one which Mr. D, 
Moore informs us is not uncommon in Ireland, has shorter but equally distinct pinnules, and 
the same erect habit. Tt also occurs with the stipes and rachis either red or green, Aspidinm 
oubt a small state of the 
irriguum is no een form of this variety, and is perhaps permanently 
smaller 
18. dissectum (W.). This, and the following, are more or less of an abnormal character. This has 
fronds scarecly exceeding a foot in height, broadly oval, and of very irregular development, Tho 
unequal, the pinnules rather distant, decurrent, unequal in size and irregular in form, but 
for the most part ovate-oblong, blunt, and eut into distant unequally-toothed lobes, Mr. Wollaston 
remarks, “It bears some analogy to premorsum, being irregularly 
ей both in the pinne and 
pinnules, but it is of the usual size and fertile. Tt might bo described as a full-grown, fully developed 
fertile pramorsum. It is beautifully lax and elegant in its habit, ‘The pinnules are decurrent and 
deeply and irregularly incised, It was found by Dr. Young in Ireland, and is rare and const 
nt in 
cultivation,” А plant lately found by Mr. S. Jervis of Darlaston Hall, Staffordshire, in that neighbour- 
hood, is very similar, and others found by ourselves at Tarbet, and by Dr. Allchin in the Isle of Man, 
are analogous, but n 
ıt quite identical. 
19. pramorsum (М). This curious dwarf and as yet barren form "was found by Dr. Dickie on 
Ben-na Muich-dhu, at an altitu 
of 3700 feet, in 1846, and has since that time proved constant 
under cultivation. 
fronds, which rarely attain a height of eight inches, are of an irregular ovate 
lanceolate outline, The pinnw are unequal, and the pinnules 
e oblong and decurrent, lacerate, and 
irregular, as if they had been partially eaten by an insect. It is exceedingly rare. It is possible 
this form may belong to Polypodium alpestre 
20. irregulare (М). A curious variety, in which the pinne are distant, furnished in their upper 
half with 1 
aranceolate incised pinnules three-fourths of an inch long, those on the lower half, 
except the basal anterior one, which is long and marrow, very much though irregularly shortened, 
frequently roundish or fan-shaped and pinnatifid, with serrated lobes, intermixed with longs 
It has been found by Mrs, Rogers in Belvoir Woods, Rutlandshire, in 1854; and similar plants have 
Black Park, Buckinghamshire ; and in 
been met with by Dr. Allehin at Virginia Water, Surrey 
the Isl 
of Man, 
21. laciniatum (ML). A very pretty small form found near Nettlecombe, in 1853, by Mr. Elworthy 
and sineo quite consta 
in cultivation, "The outline is irr 
the pinne being сали 
others preemorse, and som 
quite short. ‘The pinnules are decurrent, variable in size and form, and 
о of the lobes, 
very irregularly Ineiniated, the sori numerous and erowded about the ba 
22. abruptum. (М). A singular monstrosity, with somewhat the aspect of marinum. The fronds 
variable in form ; those which are most marked have the pinnæ, which are crowded, partially 
depauperated, roundish, or transversely oblong, and unequally ent into coarse lobes or teeth, the 
few pinnules here and there, which bear something like a normal character being bluntly oblo 
with broad shallow-toothed lobes. At the apices of most of the pinn one or two of the pinnules 
»rmal gradually tapering apex is wanting, which together with the dilatation of the 
