THE LADY FERN. 



Curudn, nd tWgbout the United Sl4l«. wb™ *1*> occur* * tk#*lj U pkat, * .pfa, w*i (of wfctt J-lft. 

 ?*»"*"" u profaMj a rmIVt fc™), differing m taviiu a crwr>in S i*ud**. Kuprwhi*, A. <y*Ww* fro* Pot™*. 

 towAi. L aitec 1,U, ud Kali**, m «tf » from Lapland, ii prctably tho ra w with «ir compound form, toiag »b<« 

 much curxod tori In South Ainrrkn *U> occur fcrau which wo rofrr to (hit •pecic*, c . ff . from lloltiu (//* U») - 

 fr*m Ctt^ and Vera Crui (JT6. /jfcbr). 1U form, frsxn the* fcrcftn habitat* nro v,Kou S but the tariitio*, « 

 quite tmlogou. to tho*> whkh occur m thu cooirfiy, .trie* ramUm; -*Ue, W*,frmU„m t fc™ and rirf™ 

 m |>*rt«alflr, faqucriUr occurring. 



cr 



Cbuda; stout, erect or decumbent, sometimes elongated and trunk-like, often tufted, scaly at the 

 crown. j$mfc« lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, dark brown, sometimes almost black, Fibres strong 

 wiry, blackish, branched, the younger parts tomentose. 



Stipes terminal, and adherent to tho caudex, from about one-third to one-fourth the entire length of 

 the frond, pale green or dull purplish red, stoutiah, much thickened and assuming a kind of spindle-shape 

 just above the base and considerably reduced in size at the extreme base, scaly ; scales numerous on the 

 lower part> lanceolate or linear, dark -coloured, varying from dark reddish brown to almost black, few 

 and narrower on the upper part, often contorted. Rachis furnished sparingly with small narrow 

 deciduous scales, channelled in front, rounded behind. 



Vernation circinatc. In the partially developed fronds tho apex becomes liberated and bent down- 

 wards in a curve like that of a shepherd's crook. 



Frond very variable in size, outline, and division, herbaceous, usually of a bright tender green, erect, 

 spreading, or drooping. In the form we have figured (which is one of the most compound slates of tho 

 incisa type) two to three feet high, and from nine inches to a foot broad ; but often mot with mature 

 from one to two feet high, and from three to six inches broad, and not unfrcqucntly nearly or quite five 

 feet in height, with the longest pinme measuring ten inches. The outline is lanceolate, sometimes very 

 broad, sometimes narrow ; the less developed forms scarcely bipinnato, the pinnules being connected by 

 the winged rachis, the more higldy developed forms almost or quite tripinnute, the pinnules Wing distinct, 

 and divided almost, or quite, to tho mid vein. Pinna; numerous, opposite or alternate, more distant below 

 and often deflcxed ; sometimes approximate, sometimes distant above ; linear-oblong, broadest at the base, 

 gradually narrowing to a point* pinnate. Pinntdea oblong, or ovate-lanceolate, obtuse or acute ; sessile 

 with a broad attachment, tlecurrent and confluent at the base, or with a very short narrowed stalk-like 

 attachment ; piuuatiiid with shallow 2-3-toothcd lobes at tho base, and simple teeth towards the apex, or 

 deeply pinnatifid throughout, with the lobes variously toothed— the teeth sometimes confined to the 

 apices of the lobes, but in tho nioro compound forms extending along their sides ; the teeth are usually 

 short and blunt-pointed, but sometimes narrowed and lengthened, though never normally bristle-pointed 

 The pinnules are sometimes merely patent, but frequently form a right angle with the secondary rachis ; 

 and they are sometimes ilat> the teeth lying in the same plane, or they become convex from the incurving 

 of the teeth over the sorL In some forms there is no appreciable difference in the proportionate size of 

 the lobes, but in others the lowest anterior lobe is considerably longer, giving an auriculato appearance 

 to the pinnules, and forming a conspicuous line on each side the rachis of the piniuc 



Venation of the pinnules in the less divided forms consisting of a llexuous midvcin t producing 

 alternate wins of which the lower arc forked, with a venule directed into each tooth, ami the upper arc 

 Simple, directed into the simple teeth at the apex of the pinnules ; in these the anterior venule of each 

 fascicle bears tho soma along its anterior side. When the pinnules are more divided, tho veins are 

 pinnately branched, several alternate venules being produced, the number corresponding with the number 

 of teeth ; tho anterior venule is here also sorifcrous, so that a line of son are produced on each side the 

 mid vein, but in addition some of the other venules of the lower lobes bear son. When the pinnules 

 become very deeply divided, as in tho most compound states of the plant, each of the veins produces 

 several fertile venules, the sort then forming two lines along the lobes. The veins and venules terminate 

 in a very slight attenuated point, just within the apex of the tooth, towards which they are directed. 



Fructification on the back of the frond, dispersed over the whole under surface. Sort numerous, 



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