THE LADY FERN. 



that in all the compound forms of Lady Fern tho anterior baeal lobes arc longer than tho rest ; but 



what occurs in this variety is nn exaggerated and mora manifest elongation. 



17- rhwticnm (Lin.)* This in its normal state, as already stated, is peculiar on account of its narrow 

 erect fronds, its ascending pinme, and linear-lanceolate pinnules, which am rendered still more appa- 

 rently linear by tho incurving of the points of the lol>es. It has the prolonged anterior basal lobe. 

 Wo have had no opportunity of testing the effect of growing this plant in shade, but wc should susj>cct 

 it would bo to produco a resemblance to the last; and tins appears to be really tho case, 

 for wc learn from Mr. Wollaston, that when grown as a pot plant in the greenhouse, it with 

 him invariably assumes the appearance of the less developed states of incimta. The form is 

 not uncommon in exposed Iwggy places ; and two or three states of it occur ; one which Mr. D. 

 Moore informs us is not uncommon in Ireland, has shorter but equally distinct pinnules, and 

 the same erect habit. It also occurs with the stipes and rachis cither red or green. Aspidium 

 irriquum is no doubt a small state of tho green form of tins variety, and is perhaps permanently 



smaller. 



18. dtssectnm (W.). This, and the following, are moro or less of an abnormal character. This lias 

 fronds scarcely exceeding a foot in height* broadly oval, and of very irregular development Tho 

 pinme are unequal, the pinnules rather distant, decurrent, unequal in size and irregular in form, but 

 for the most part ovate-oblong, blunt, and cut into distant unequally-toothed lobes. Mr. Wollaston 

 remarks, "It bears some analogy to jmvmormm, being irregularly jagged both in the pinnas and 

 pinnules, but it is of tho usual size and fertile. It might bo described as a full-grown, fully developed 

 fertile prccmorsum. It is beautifully lax and elegant in its habit The pinnules arc decurrent and 

 deeply and irregularly incised. It was found by Dr. Youug in Ireland, and is rare and constant in 

 cultivation." A plant lately found by Mr. 3. Jervis of Darlaston Hall, Staffordshire, in that neighbour- 

 hood, is very similar, and others found by ourselves at Tarbet, and by Dr. Allchin in the Isle of Man, 

 are analogous, but not quite identical. 



19. prwmorsum (M.). This curious dwarf and as yet barren form "was found by Dr. Dickie on 

 BciMia Muich-dhu, at an altitude of 3700 feet> in 184G, and has since that time proved constant 

 under cultivation/' The fronds, which rarely attain a height of eight inches, am of an irregular ovate* 

 lanceolate outline. The pinna* are unequal, and tho pinnules arc oblong and decurrent, lacerate, and 

 irregular, as if they bad been partially eaten by an insect It is exceedingly rare. It is possible 

 this form may belong to Polypodium tdpestre. 



20. irrct/ntare (M.). A curious variety, in which the pinmo are distant, furnished in then* upper 

 half with linear-lanceolate incised pinnules three-fourths of an inch long, those on tho lower half, 

 except the basal anterior one, which is long and narrow, very much though irregularly shortened, 

 frequently roundish or fan-shaped and pinnatifid, with serrated lobes, intermixed with longer ones. 

 It has been found by Mrs. Rogers in Bclvoir Woods, Rutlandshire, hi 1851 ; and similar plants have 

 been met with by Dr. Allchin at Virginia Water, Surrey ; in Black Park, Buckinghamshire ; and in 



the Isle of Man. 



SI. tacinittium (M.). A very pretty small form found near Nettlecombe, in 1853, by Mr. El worthy, 

 and since quite constant in cultivation. The outline is irregular, some of the pinnic being caudate, 

 others prceniorse, and some quite short The pinnules arc decurrent, variable in size and form, and 

 very irregularly laciniatcd, the sort numerous and crowded about the base of the lobes. 



22. abrupfam. (M). A singular monstrosity, with somewhat tho aspect of marimm. The fronds 

 are variable in form ; those which arc most marked have the pinnre, which are crowded, partially 

 depauperated, roundish, or transversely oblong, and unequally cut into coarse lobes or teeth, the 

 few pinnules here and there, which bear something like a normal character being bluntly oblong, 

 with broad shallow-toothed lobes. At the apices of most of the pinnas one or two of tho pinnules 

 are larger, and the normal gradually tapering apex is wanting, which together with the dilatation of the 





