144 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



subvariety is much commoner some years than others ; the rule I have not yet 

 satisfactorily established, and, therefore, I shall content myself with enumerating 

 the species, leaving it to some other hand, or some other time to explain the laws. The 

 variety ramosum, as, indeed, may be said of all varieties, is uniform, much rarer, and is 

 found in fewer species than the subvariety. It is thus defined : — Variety, ramosum ; 

 constant ; stipe, often bifid or multifid ; rachis, do., do. ; segments rounded at edges 

 and apices ; confluent often curled and crisped ; veins generally terminating in a lash 

 of branches ; generally fruitful. Examples — Phyllitis scolopendrium, var. ramosum 

 (auc.) ; Lomaria spicant, var. ramosum (Mei) ; Athyrium Filix Fajmina, var. ramo- 

 sum (three forms)— Alpha, Beta, Gamma (as before), &c. All these forms are 

 allowedly fruitful. 



The variations of this form are numerous, from the simple, curled, almost undi- 

 vided apex of one form of Ph. Scolopendrium, to which the name Crista galli has 

 been given, up to the extreme divisions seen in the forms of Phyll. Scolo- 

 pendrium, var. multifidum. The subvariety multifidum is very extensively repre- 

 sented ; out of the twenty-four genera of British ferns, enumerated by Newman, 

 being recorded in all but seven — viz., Adiantum, (vide list at end), Pseudathyrium, 

 Hemestheum, Cystopteris Woodsia.* It runs through every stage from simple lobing 

 of the apex of the frond, or of the ends of the pinnae or pinnules, down to the 

 division of the stipe itself. In some species it is very common, in others 

 very rare. Character — Subvariety multifidum ; not uniformly constant ; stipe 

 sometimes dichotomous ; rachis bifid or multifid ; segments, following usual 

 outline of frond, confluent or distinct, never curled or crisped ; midvein terminating 

 in a point at apex of each segment ; generally fruitful. Examples of group — Ph. 

 scolopendrium, subvariety multifidum ; Lomaria spicant, subvariety multifi- 

 dum ; Ath. Eilix faemina, subvar. multifidum. There can but one form of this occur, 

 and we can, hence, easily distinguish in description what axis of the plant is affected, 

 using X to represent the primary, and Z the secondaiy, &c, axis ; if thought 

 proper, marking the divisions of the rachis as X 1, the division of the stipe as 

 X 2. The same divisions might also be made in the variety ; but they are particu- 

 larly well shown in the subvariety (vide list). 



The form Z is most striking in compound fronds ; but even in simple fronds 

 something, to say the least, strongly analogous i3 to be found, at all events, in 

 the variety in a form of Phyl. scolopendrium, called endivifolium by its discoverer, 

 Mr. Young; and also, though in a less degree, in the form named undulatum or 

 crispum, which is said to be merely a degenerated form of ramosum. ( Vide second 

 part.) In Mr. Young's plant, we find the veins prolonged and thickened, and almost 

 converted into branches, rendering the fern multifid along its edges. The same form 

 is also seen in a more exaggerated state in another form, also forwarded me by 

 G. B. Wollaston, Esq. (thanks to whose kindness I am enabled to illustrate this 

 subject so well by specimens) ; he calls it Diyitatum. In it we find regular midribs 

 proceeding from the main midrib, and giving the frond a regular branched pinna- 

 tifid appearance, yet manifestly but a modification of the ramose type. Indeed, for 

 any one wishing to study these two forms there can be no better species than Scolo- 

 pendrium. 



The subvariety multifidum is, as might be expected, found in many foreign 

 genera and species. I show specimens of Mohria thuri fraga, and an exotic 

 Asplenium and Polypodium, thus affected. The system pursued in naming these 

 forms has been, when practicable, adopting the name given to the forms when 

 first described, choosing the most typical. These were, in the two classes, 

 considered Phyll. Scol. ramosum, and multifidum. For the first it has been 

 suggested to use cristatum. This, though a most expressive and applicable name, 

 was considered inadmissible, as being borne by a species; if Newman's name 

 of Lophodium callipteris is generally adopted for the species under consideration, this 

 form should be called cristatum. 



I lay before you a list of the species in which these two forms occur, with their 

 synonymes, as far as I have been able to trace them, so that you can judge of the 



* Newman figures a frond of Woodsia ilvensis, which appears to be multifidum.— Brit Ferns, 

 p. 137. Second edition. 



