THE COMMON BRAKES. 



species it is subject to variations of outline and division, as well as of vestiture, but the variations arc of 

 little importance, The nature of the membrane which is found lying beneath the sori, at least in the 

 fully fructified fronds, has not been well explained. It would indeed seem that the lines of *|>ore-ca$es 

 Ho between two unequal membrane* naturally projected outwards from the marginal receptacle (the 

 fructification having so far some resemblance to that ofLindswa), the revolution of the margin, however, 

 actually bringing the smaller of these membranes beneath, while the other lies over the spore-cases as a 

 cover. This latter must be regarded as the true indusium. while the former is probably of the nature 

 of an accessory indusium. 



The ISracken is not an ornamental plant, in the usual sense of the expression ; indeed, in pots or in 

 small rookeries, it is rather weedy than ornamental. Nevertheless there are situations in which it may 

 be cultivated with advantage. Thus, for example, it may be grown for ornament about the margins of 

 that class of plantations which skirt approach roads or screen unsightly objects; and it may also bo 

 used with advantage for the purpose of ailording shelter, or cover in the inoro open plantations of 

 |>arks and paddocks. There has been an impression that the Pirns is difficult to transplant successfully ; 

 this impression may, with probability, be traced to a statement, long since made, by Sir J. E. Smith, to 

 this effect If, however, the subterraneous horizontal rhizome is dug up in winter, without injury, and 

 planted with ordinary care, there is little risk of failure. The plant is not at all particular as to soil, 

 except that it seems to avoid chalk, though no doubt a deep sandy loam is most congenial to it. 

 There are few varieties of the Bracken as yet discovered ; these few are as follow :— 



1. inUiftsrriiiut (M.). The peculiarity of this form consists in the comparative entirety of the 

 secondary pinnules <pinnulets); these, instead of being mostly and deeply pmuatifid, are nearly all 

 quite entire, or here and there only one or two of the basal ones are slightly crcnnto-lobato. It is not 

 uncommon, and probably merges into the pinnatifid form, but many plants and patches of plants are 

 found possessing this peculiarity in a striking degree. There is also a young form of this variety in 

 which the primary pinme are deltoid, and the pinnules of the secondary pinna* sessile, very broad, ami 

 regularly crenate, having something of the appearance of IMobrovhia resjjvrUfiottis. It is not 

 uncommou iu shady woods* 



2. crispa (W_). There arc two forms of tliis variety, the divisions of both corresponding with the 

 normal growth of the species, but are occasionally multilid. One has the margins of the pinnulcts 

 entire undulate and reflcxed, as in Athyrium FUix*f<xmina r/talfcum; the other has them crenate and 

 corrugately waved, as in Scolopendrium vnlgare enspuiru It is not an uncommon, but a local variety, 



3. multifida <\V.). This, in its best condition, is a rather unusual form of the plant* and like many 

 other varieties bearing this name, is only sub-permanent: with this exception it is analogous to the 

 A tlnjrutm Fil!x-f<vmiiut muttiftdum. There arc two sub-forms of it : one, in which the apex of the frond 

 and the apices of most of the primary piuiuc arc multilidly-crispcd ; the other in which the apex of the 

 frond and of the primary pinmc arc rarely multifid, but the apices of the secondary pinnic (pinnules) and 

 many of the pinnulcts are affected instead. Many localities produce one or other of these forms ; the most 

 marked of the former are from near Chislclmrst, Kent, and of the latter from near Ottcry St. Mary, 

 Devon, both found by Mr. Wollaston, Wo have also received the former from Devon from the Rev. J. 

 M. Chanter, and from Guernsey gathered by Miss Wilkinson and Mr. C. Jackson; and the last-named 

 has been found by Mr. S. 0. Gray in Cobham Park, Kent, and also by Mr. Chanter in Devonshire. 



4. dejmupvrnUi (W.). This Mr. Woltaston describee as a most curiously depauperated form of the 

 last, but non-permanent as regards this state, and only sub-permanent as regards its multifid state, 

 nevertheless deserving of record. The divisions of the frond correspond with those of muttifidum, but 

 the pinnulcts (or rather tho crenate lobes) of the multifid apices of the primary pinna?, and the lobes of 

 the secondary pinme are all decurrent* depauperated, attenuated and occasionally interrupted. It has 

 been found in two woods near Chislehurst, Kcut, by Mr, Wollaston, and at Bownoss, iu Cumberland, 

 by Mr. Wood. 



