DUBUV VATUBAL HI8T0RT SOCIETY. 96 



Dryopteris Borreri {Newm.). Borrer's Fern. 



General, and generally diffused ; affects more exposed stations and 

 higher altitudes than the last 



These two species are among the more characteristic of the eastern 

 species. 



Athyrium filix famina {Linn. »p.). Lady Fern. 



General, and generally diffused. 



After a long and careful study of this, one of the loveliest of our 

 native ferns, I cannot make out more than the one species of this fern 

 in Ireland, of which forms at times occur which are identical, apparently, 

 with convexumi tncisum, and molle of the Floras. Whether the original 

 types of these divisions were specifically distinct or not, I do not pretend 

 to judge, but in Ireland we have but one species. I should except a small 

 form (?) of this species, which I obtained some years ago at Ardmore, 

 county of Waterford, growing on the sea cliffs, but which I have not 

 had sufficient means of examining, to enable me to judge of its claims 

 to specific distinction. 



Asplenium lanceolatum (JETudson), 



Cork : Kinsale, Mrs. J. Beete Jukes, 1856, q. v. 



The only Irish specimen I have ever seen was that noted above. I 

 have recently seen the plant growing luxuriantly in Cornwall, near 

 Polperro. 



Asplenium adiantum-nigrum {Linn.). Maiden-hair Spleenwort. 



GeneraL 



A commonly diffused, though local plant, occurs on rocks and earth- 

 banks as its natural habitat ; I have met it everywhere. In the north 

 and east it is generally more local than in the south. 



Asplenium acutum {B<yry MSS.). Killamey Spleenwort. 



Kerry : Tore Mountain and other places near Killamey, not uncom- 

 mon, J. R. K., 1856. 



No one who has seen this plant growing wild, or authentic specimens 

 under cultivation, would for one moment entertain the idea of this and 

 Asplenium adiantum-nigrum being the same species ; their habits are dis- 

 tinct, and constantly distinct, so much so that I have known persona 

 who were not botanists readily point out the difference between the 

 two species. The confusion relative to the two has, I conceive, arisen 

 from the fact of a form of A, adiantum-nigrum existing abundantly in 

 various parts of the country; amongst others atMucruss, Killamey, which 

 is extremely difficult to distinguish from the printed description of this 

 plant, but scarcely to be confounded with the plant itself. I have no 

 doubt the specimens examined by Professor G. J. Allman, and among 

 which he found intermediate forms, fall Under thia category. The tme 



p 



