THE CRESTED BUCKLER PERN. 



treats all three as forms of one species; and that they have a close natural affinity which separates 

 them from the forms of L. dOataia, we have no doubt whatever, however similar to the latter, in some 

 eases, may be the degree and mode of division in the fronds. Their affinity is evidenced by marks far 

 more important than those to be derived from snch inconstant characters as are the outline or division 

 of the fronds : namely, by the creeping caudcx, by the sparse and pallid bioad oppressed scales and 

 by the erect narrow fronds, and entire indusia, in all which they agree. In these points they 

 cbffer more or less obviously, and in the ease of the first-name.! absolutely, from the ditatoa group 

 Without at all disturbing the convietiou which led us to regard these plants as varieties of one species 

 we however propose here, in deference to the more commonly received opinion, to treat of Z, sjnuulw 

 sojmraUjly. 



The Laslrca Hlujinnm of Newman <P WTB XX.) we must still regard as a variety of L. crisUxta, 

 the only marked difference, in truth, being that its earlier fertile fronds have the pinnules more 

 acute, and more conspicuously lobed and toothed, and that the discrepancy in size between the anterior 

 and postenor basal pinnules is a degree mom manifest. It has a stout decumbent caudcx, and erect 

 hncar-lanceolate fronds, two to four feet high, and bipinnate at the base of the pinme. Three kinds of 

 fronds are borne by the plan.,, but they are not all simuHaneous in their appearance, nor constantly 

 produced ; and though different they are not strikingly dissimilar, like the barren and fertile fronds of 

 some other Ferns. The early fronds of the stronger crowns are fertile, and with them sometimes but 

 not always appear others which are smaller and ban-en, the latter often produced from small lateral 

 crowns, but also sometimes from the same erown which produces the fertile ones ; whilst later in the 

 season ether fronds with broader and blunter pinnules are borne, these being sometimes fertile 

 sometimes barren. Thus, the early barren fronds aro small, spreading, pinnate, with decurrcnt oblong 

 obtuse pmnule*. and resemble small barren fronds of cristate. The summer fronds are also m^-likc 

 large, with decurrcnt oblong obtuse pinnules, and very frequently fertile. The fertile fronds produced 

 in spring are more like spinulosa ; they grow quite erect, and are linear-la necolate, bipinnate, the basal 

 pinnules distinct, all the pinnre stalked, and set on so that their „p,>er surface is turned towards the 

 point of the frond. The pimne am elongate triangular, the lower ones beiug shorter, broader, and more 

 obhquc, the first posterior pinnule being an inch, the anterior one three-fourths of an inch long. The 

 basal pmnules of the middle pinna, are distinct, oblong, acute, pinnatifidly lobcd, the lobes sharply 

 sen-ate with longish spinulese or aristate teeth ; the upper pinnules are adnate and sharply and deeply 

 sen-ate. The fructification extends over the whole frond, but is most copious towards the top, where it 

 fonns two hues near the midrib on the smaller pinnules, being confined to the anterior basal venules ■ 

 whilst it becomes confused on the larger pinnules in consequence of being produced in two scries on the 

 lobes, both anterior and posterior venules being there fertile. The caudex branches sparingly The 

 fronds are said to appear several days earlier than these of L. crittata, but our cultivate! plants have 

 never shown any regularity in this respect, some plants preceding, others following L. cmtata, although 

 all circumstoucod alike. We consider this plant more closely allied to L. cristata than to L. spinosula, 

 because its vernation agrees more exactly with the former, and because neither its early ban-en fronds 

 nor iU later fertile ones can be certainly distinguished from analogous fronds of bcrutato, Whilst en 

 the other hand, no such criHataXko fronds are produced by L. s P <n,4osa. The special attention of 

 Enghsh botanists was drawn to this plant by Mr. John Lloyd, a few years since ; and our figure is 

 taken from a plant brought by him from Oxton bog. Nottinghamshire, 



Both these Ferns grow readily in peaty soil, with abundant moisture ; and though not remarkable 

 for elegance, they are yet useful in grouping on account of their upright habit of growth. They are 

 increased with tolerable facility by the separation of the lateral crowns when produced. 



The species and variety produce occasional multifid variations. In both the variation consists 

 mostly in the division of the apices of the pinna-, rather than that of the apex of the frond, which is 

 rarely affected. They however do not rank as permanent varieties. 



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