THE LADY FERN. 



The different forms of Lady Fern aro easily cultivated. All the larger ones grow readily in good 

 light loamy or peaty soil, and liko plenty of moisture, and for the most part shade and shelter. The 

 variety rhaticum perhaps prefers exposure. The dwarf t lifted variety called cri$pum, and the smaller 

 abnormal forms, are rather apt to sustain injury from too much confined dampness about the crowns in 

 winter The species in its varied phases may be considered one of the most beautiful of the larger 

 deciduous native Ferns, 



Though attempting to enumerate for the use of cultivators, as well as for the information of 

 botanists, the many forms in which the tody Fern appears, wo have not been always able to assign 

 to them exact limits, for in many cases they pass by intermediate forms the one into the other, After, 

 however, having for several years given much attention lo this subject, wo have come to the 

 conclusion that there in more of immanence and constancy among them than is generally l>clicvcd. Wo 

 have rediscovered several recognisable forms, but with an increase of vigour, in the same situations 

 after a lapse of six or eight years, so that the variations in these coses were at least not the result of 

 age. Wo have removed others to the garden, and have not found them to vary beyond the acquisition 

 of an increase of vigour under cultivation ; and we have removed plants of the less compound forms 

 from the open air to a shady greenhouse, without inducing any change of habit, or producing 

 thereby even an approximation to the more compound forms. On the other hand some varieties, 

 rlueticum especially, is reported to change under cultivation; but we have had no opportunity of 

 experimenting with this form, which, as far as our observations go, owes its peculiar appear- 

 ances to its growing naturally in exposed wet places ; when removed to the shelter of a garden 

 it no doubt becomes more lax, but even then we believe it may be identified- Every part of the 

 plant — the scales, the stipes, the outline and direction of the frond, the form, attachment, and 

 direction of the pinuulcs, anil the size and position of the son— is so liable to vary, that it is difficult to 

 determine what peculiarities are of the highest valuo in endeavouring to set limits to the varieties, and 

 after all, much reliance must be placed on differences which the eye detects but which the pen fails to 

 record, For this reason especially, few of the forms below enumerated are considered to have any 

 other botanical importance than that of proving the variability of what are called species. Wo have, 

 however, thought it better to notice all that were known to us. than to cost the most puzzling aside as 

 'diseased or malformed,' or 'not having any botanical existence/ The testing of the constancy or 

 inconstancy of the fonus of such variable plants as the present, with patience and perse vera nee under 

 fair conditions of culture* is worthy the attention of those Fern-growers who have space for the 

 experiments. The enumeration which follows, of the modifications of form occurring among our native 

 Lady Ferns, is enriched by many notes and memoranda from Mr. Wollaston : — 



1, confluent (lt>. A very remarkable fonn, found by Mr. A. Tait, of Edinburgh, u in the seam of a 

 pcr]>cndicular rock, on the side of one of the pine-covered mountains near Diiiikeld," in 1853. It has a 

 peculiar rigid erect appearance. The original fronds were about nine inches high, but the plant has 

 not recovered the effects of its removal, which was effected with difficulty, The piniuu are about an 

 inch long, the basal pinnule distinct* with shallow two or throc~toothcd lobes, the rest crowded, 

 eonlluent at the base, pinnatifidly lobed, with distinct blunt teeth. In the original fronds these 



confluent pinnules were considerably reduced in size. 



2, latifolium (Bab,), Sir, Wollastou's notes on this variety, already described above, are as follows : — 

 The fronds arc ovatedanccolato, subtripinnate, the lobes of the pinnules being cut almost to the 

 midvein ; the stipes is short, and hut thinly clothed with scales. The pinnie are alternate, approximate 

 on the upper part of the frond, distant below, linear-lanceolate. The pinnules, which aro crowded 

 and overlapping, aro stipitnte. ovate, and deeply and irregularly incised. It is a ve*y graceful variety 

 and easy of cultivation, but retains it* abnormal character best in the open air. 



3, marinum (M.). Of this Mr. Wollaston notes as follows :— This variety differs essentially from 



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