NOTES ON FERNS FOUND NEAB WOOL-BRIDGE. 18 



' Pohjstichum angulare, Willdenow's Fern, is also found here; and my atten- 

 tion was first called to it by Mrs. Sliipp, of Wareliam. 



Hemestheum thehjpetris. Marsh Fern, is said to be found on Poole Heath. 



Lastrea montana, Mountain Fern, may, I believe, be pronounced rare abont 

 here. There is a small stream running through a portion of Wool Heath, 

 and on the banks of this there are two plants growing, the only ones that I 

 am aware of. The length of the fronds varied from eighteen to twenty-four 

 inches. 



LophocUum Fcenesecii, Bree's Fern, is to be constantly met with in damp 

 woods and hedge-rows ; certainly one of our most beautiful fei'ns; but it will 

 bear very little exposure or handling until dried, as it withers very speedily 

 after being gathered. 



Lophodium multiflorum, Roth's Fern. This also, I think, may be pronounc- 

 ed with safety to be found here ; but in this genus, the species appear to me 

 to run so much the one into the other, that I speak with great caution of this 

 and 



Lophodium spinosum, Withering's Fern, which a friend has announced from 

 specimens in my collection, as also, 



Lophodium rigidum, Rigid Fern, which appears to be quite local, having 

 only found specimens on one bank, in a damp boggy meadow on Wool-Bridge 

 farm. 



Dryopteris Jilix mas, Male Fern, is everywhere abundant, more especially 

 the common form; but I have also had the gratification of finding the 

 variety 



D. f. m. affinis, in a wood at East Lulworth. There Avere only four or 

 five plants clustered near each other, so far as I could discover. I have also 

 specimens of one other variety, which does not answer to any description 

 either in Newman or Moore. Abnormal forms are occasionally met with. 



Athyrium Jilix frnnina, Lady Fern. This elegant and delicate plant is con- 

 stantly to be seen, and although the forms may occasionally slightly vaiy, 

 I have been unable to mark them as distinct varieties. This and the two 

 preceding genera, as also the Eupteris aquilina, are indifferently cut and 

 dried by the peasantry, to be used as litter for their pigs and cattle, where 

 they have any. 



As2'>lenium adiantum nigrum, Black Spleenwort, is not so abundant as 

 many ; but it is still to be met Avith in considerable abundance in hedges 

 and old buildings. The finest specimens from Bindon Abbey. 



Asplenium marimim. Sea Spleenwort, is occasionally found on the clifis, 

 facing the sea ; but the only rock, to my own knowledge, is Tilly Whim, 

 Swanage ; and the plant, in growth, more resembles Newman's figure, mark- 

 ed " the Liverpool plant," but which is veiy different in size and the shape 

 of the pinnfE from plants which the Rev. Walter Kendal procured for me, 

 from Budleigh Salterton, Devon. 



