THE SCALE FERN 
«ply pinnatifid, often pinnate below. Lobes oblong, obtuse 
closely-imbricated scales; linear-lanccolate 
and adnate by their whole base when distinct, more usually dilated on both sides and connected 
at the base, margined with projecting seal 
Venation indistinct from the thick texture of the frond, consisting of a sinuous midvein, entering the 
its anterior side, a vein which is several 
obe from near the lower angle, and giving of, close to the bas 
times forked ; the rest of the veins are alternate and two or three times forked. Beyond the second 
fork the branches or venules anastomose and form two or three series of small areoles near the margin, 
Fructification produced over the whole under surface. Sort linear oblong, borne on the anterior sido 
of tho anterior venules, above the first fork, except in the ca 
fre 
le of its anterior venulo, the other 
ently bisoriferous, one sorus being as usual on the anterior " 
irst hidden by the denso covering of scales, 
the posteri sterior venule; they are 
seribed as an erect white membranous 
which eventually they burst through, Zndusium ob 
ridge. Spore-eases roundish obovate, Spores roundish or somewhat oblong, muriente 
‘Duration, The caudex is perennial. "he fronds аго persistent, new ones appearing about May 
sd by its tufted sinuato-pinnatifid fronds, invested. 
rect 
tish Ferns this plant isat onee reco 
th, The c 
Among 
morie position of the plant is not so 
Г 
with a close covering of tawny scales 
of relationship it bears to r though closely 
r the degree a 
satisfactorily or readily settled, neiti 
sori are said to have a narrow indusium 
analogous plant found in Tenerife and the Canaries. 
behind them, and the spore-cases grow from the anterior side of tho vein, and henee it has been, and 
probably correctly, considered to belong to the 4spleniza, with which the reticulation of its scales is in 
accordance. We have never found in the British plant, though we believe we havo in that of the 
Ca 
nary Isles, an undoubted indusium, but the dense clothing of scales seems a sufficient exp 
the obsolete condition of this organ ; which is pr 
P 
admitted that it presents only differences of degree, but it is not unfrequently twice the length and 
у represented by a raised line or ridge which 
recases, As to the distinetn 
occurs behind the line of of the Canary Island plant it must b 
imen of true C. oficinarun, and even its smaller examples of 
three times the breadth of the largest s 
the same le lish fronds aro twice their breadth, and consequently of a different outline 
If a variety only, it is a gigantic ono 
It grows with tolerable freedom in rough porous soil, which should consist of sandy loam, and 
ts of limestone or old mortar; and it must be kept 
should contain a considerable amount of fragme 
s mend the use 
mo of our correspondents re 
rather dry than otherwise, and in a well-aired place 
of old cow-manure, and altogether 1 treatment, but in that caso more than ordinary caution. 
"This species does not vary much except in size, There are, however, one or two forms found in 
some situations, which may be considered as sli m 
1. crenatum (М). This has the margins of the lobes distinctly erenato-sinuate, and is usually larger 
form. It is mot with occasionally in various 
ın the commo alitics, occurring probably under 
int when indifferently cultivated. 
certain conditions which favour luxuriant growth, and hence not cons 
2. multifidum (У) is a non-permanent unfroquent form, differing from the normal only in the 
divided apex of the frond. 
3. depauperatum (W.), OF this several variations have been met with, chiefly in Ireland, where it was 
found by Dr. Allein. The most remarkable of the forms was found by Lieut.Col. Bucha 
n at 
Kilkenny. The fronds are irregularly sinuato-pinnatifid, some bifureate at the 
apex, some tapering to 
an acuminate point, and others cornute; the segments very much depauperated, occasionally almost 
wanting, in which ease the fronds pres 
ted by Mr, Wollaston, 
nt the appearance of а sinuately winged rachis. It is probably 
constant and is now cultiva 
