THE SMOOTH HOCK SPLEEN WORT. 



of sandstone, or some similar porous material. It is Increased without difficulty by division. A 

 magnificent mass of this plant; cultivated by Dr. Young, can bo scarcely less than a foot in diameter, 

 with fronds eight or ten inches long. 



This plant is not much given to variation. Mr. Wollasten notices a variety, multiftdnm, in which 

 tho fronds are occasionally bifid or multifid at the apex ; this state is not uncommon, but it is also 

 not permanent, and plants having tins tendency sometimes produce a few of the pinna: unusually 

 large. 



Mr. Wollasten proposes for another supposed variety, of dubious origin, the name of jtrotiferwn. 



This interesting plant, which has been known to us since 1851, is so remarkably distinct, that were it 



not for the obscurity of its history, we should, without any hesitation, claim for it specific rank. 



Though most like A./onianmn of our British sjiecies, it is in fact quite unlike that plant in several of 



its characters. We do not recognise it in any published descriptions, nor can we find any specimens 



to which we can refer it in Sir W. J. Hooker's magnificent collection. The fronds wc received in 1851 



were from the gardens at Pepcr-Hurrow Park, Surrey. It has since been exhibited at the metropolitan 



fC-tcs by Mr. Parker, nurseryman, of Hornsey, who, wo believe, holds tho stock of it, aud whose plants 



were obtained from Mr. Williams, gardener to C. R Warner, Esq., of Hoddesdon. Mr. Williams 



reports that nlwut six years since he received it, as A. viridc, from a gardener, whose friend had found 



it in Scotland, and sont throe plants. This person, whose name was Fildcn, it appears died soon after 



tho occurrence. Compared with A.ftndanum, the fronds are longer and narroxver in proportion, being 



seven or eight inches high, and not more than three-fourths of an inch wide. They have a dark brown 



rachis throughout, which is not distinctly winged, as in fontanum, although there is a slight green 



decurrent line at tho upper angles between the pinna) ; the outline is different, being equal ami almost 



linear, uot broader upwards ; tho lower pinna? are scarcely more distant than the rest, and they are 



all refracted in a remarkable manner, as well as much less divided ; the habit of growth is spreading. 



and the fronds are proliferous. Mr. Wollasten remarks, that " its having been associated with 



A. viridc, and jmrtaking so much of the aspect of that species as to have deceived some of our best 



ptoridologiste, is at least circumstantial evidence of its British origin. The little bulbils are formed 



principally at the junction of the pinna with tho rachis." Wc arc so convinced of its distinctness, 



that notwithstanding its dubious history, wc shall add the accompanying definition, to famish 



means for its recognition, and in the hope that the attention of botanists may bo directed to 



its rc-discovcry :— 



A. refrnclum • fronds linear subbipimiatc ; pinna; short oblong obtuse, refracted, 



pinnate at the base, pinnatilid above ; pinnules (the lowest anterior one only 



distinct the rest more or less confluent) roundish, with a few coarse angular 



mucronato teeth, the upper two-four toothed, the lower ones overlapping ; sori 



short oblong oblique, in a line on each side near the costa of the pinna; ; rachis 



chestnut-coloured, marginate above, not winged, bulbil-bcarine. 

 link f Scotland. 



77 



