262 



isolated colonies, and in but few places prevails in any 

 quantity. The hay scent is more perceptible in dead 

 fronds than green ones, it is very persistent, and is not 

 dissimilar to the perfume of the Tonquin Bean. 



L. THELYPTERIS. 



Tlie Marsh Buckler Fern. 



This differs markedly from the other members of the 

 same genus in having a creeping rhizome or rootstock, like 

 Ptevis aquilina or the Polypodies, whence the fronds spring 

 singly in succession. It is found locally but always in 

 boggy ground, its stolons permeating actual mud. The 

 fronds commence with very long bare stalks and are tall 

 and slender, the pinnae commence high up, and the fronds 

 resemble in their upper part drawn-up fronds of L, 

 montana, i.e. of narrower lance-like outline, and the pinnae 

 more distant. It is quite deciduous, and its creeping roots 

 form dense mat-like masses. 



L. RIGIDA. 



This species is only found on limestone formations, it 

 resembles a somewhat stunted Male Fern with somewhat 

 wider fronds, which are of a dull green. Its general habit 

 is the same, but its peculiar glandular surface makes it 

 easily distinguishable. Deciduous. 



C. T. D. 



SOME POLYSTICHUMS ; SPECIES AND 



W A'Rl'ETl'ES— continued. 



The congestum forms are more or less dense, dwarf, imbri- 

 cate ; and although there is a good deal of foliaceous matter 

 it is necessarily compressed into a comparatively small 

 compass. Hence we have such little gems as C. Lyell, 

 Padley, and Wills. Cvistatnni and grandiceps may well be 

 taken together, as the latter is a magnification of the former. 

 Under both these designations there are many fine varieties. 



