frond is divided into a short tassel, 10 was found near Ilfracombe, by the Rev. J. М. Chanter; and is, 
же learn, constant, 
29. multifidum (М. ; cristatum (W.). This is the most beautifully symmetrical—yet monstrous 
graceful permanent variety which has yet been found, equally beautiful and exactly analogous with 
the variety cristata of the Male Fern. Its habit co 
ds exactly with the usual form of the plant; 
but it differs in having the apices of the frond, pinnae, and (in well-grown plants) the pinnules most 
exquisitely tasselled or divided into a lash of branches. "he tips of the pinn are in fact many times 
dichotomous, with the apices dilated 
nd incised. It belongs to the rhaticum group. Mr. Wollaston 
suggests, with a view to uniformity in the names of corresponding varieties, that this ought to be called 
cristatum on account of its similarity to the crested f 
m of the Male Fern ; but it seems imp 
without continually changing the names in u 
at this uniformity, so that 
Fern-cultivators should adopt the rule which botanists have established on this point, and avoid mere 
changes, Our plate of this 
ty necessarily represents a small specimen ; when lange and at the same 
time well grown, it is far handsomer. This form was 
Ireland, by Mr. D. Moore, in со 
1 near the Seven Churches, in Wick 
pany with Mr. Newman ; and it or similar forms have also been 
reported to have been found in Clare, by Dr. Kinahan, and in Killarney, by Mr. Ogilby 
30. depauperatum (W.); ramosum (ML). A remarkable monstrosity which, although it somewhat 
resembles the last, differs from it essentially in its 1 
msymmetrieal development. The apex of the 
frond is much more deeply lacerate 
split up into numerous corymbiform tassels. The pinna» are 
also tasselled, depa 
uporated, Ineiniated, and irr 
lar, and the pinnules very irregular, bluntly toothed, 
and frequently altogether wanting, "The sori are fi 
'ntly abortive. It is an exceedingly rare variety 
and was found, it appears, many years since, by Mr. J 
Junning (at that time foreman in the Dublin College 
n to Dr. Mackay 
wre the appearance of а tuft of fine 
Botanic Garden), near Ben Bulben in Sligo, Ireland. Cultivators owe its distribut 
31. erispum (М); Smithié (Hort). This 
curled parsley than of a Fern. It is of slender and dwarfish habit, and the fronds aro ramified in 
every possible way, the rachis being divided very irregularly, and each apex densely tufted. The pinnae 
and pinnules 
very unsymmetrically laciniated, and frequently wanting for a long portion of the 
stipes. The fruetification is generally ab 
tive, as in the last, but, as in that, not always so. It was 
originally found by Mr. A. Smith “on the Hill Orah,” Antrim, Ireland ; subsequently in Corymulzio 
Lynn, “Braemar, Scotland, by Sir W. C. ‘Trevelyan; and recently at Todmorden, 
Mr. J. Наада 
Lancashire, by 
То this species, and possibly to the variety rhaticum, belo 
ше a plant ^ gathered on y* mountains of 
Mourne, in y" county of Down," by Sherard, and now preserved in the University Herbarium, Oxford 
It is the Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum of Six J. E. Smith, and is referred to Asplenium acutum by 
Mr. Newman! Sir J. E. Smith correctly describes it as of a delicate membranous texture, the leaflets 
finely lacini 
te and without fructification, We are indebted to Mr. М. Т. Masters, sub-curator of the 
Fielding Herbarium, for a photograph of Sherard’s plant, which (ау 
an Athyrium, Tt is assuredly not at all like Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum, or Asplenium acutum. 
‘The frond is about a foot long, linear-lane 
te, bipinnate, with narrow oblong pinnas, of which it 
would appear that the veins are more perfectly developed than the parenchyma, hence the appearan 
of being palmately laciniate. Tt is just such a state 
might be expected to be pre 
din a dark 
cave, in which this is said to have grown, 
the normal and monstrous state; we may especially refer to the ‘gatherings’ of Dr. Allchin, in the 
Isle of Man ; of the Rev 
M. Chanter, in Devonshire; of Mr. Wollaston, in ke District 
and of Mr. Clapham, in Yorkshire. These 
have been too recently « admit of 
