44 



BRITISH FERNS. 



early in the spring, arrive in perfection in August and September, 

 and remain in perfect vigour throughout the v^^inter. The fronds 



are always fertile. The form of 

 the frond is linear, lanceolate, and 

 pinnate ; the pinnae are crowded, 

 and extend quite to the base of 

 the rachis, which is clothed with 

 chaffy scales : the pinnae are some- 

 what crescent-shaped, auricled 

 on the upper side next the rachis, 

 and serrated, the serratures being 

 acutely spiny ; each pinna is 

 somewhat twisted, the auricled 

 >J:w^3};fC^07 portion projecting behind the 



frond, which is altogether ex- 

 tremely rigid, and grows in an 

 erect position; it is of a deep 

 shining green colour, and almost 

 as stiff and prickly as a spike of 

 little holly leaves; so much so, 

 indeed, that the fronds are not 

 flattened for drying without con- 

 siderable difficulty. 



In the Irish specimens the masses 

 of thecae are most abundant to- 

 wards the apex of the frond, but 

 are scattered throughout the other 

 parts, even to its base; whereas, 

 in the specimens usually named 

 Lonchitis, from Scotland and 

 Wales, the masses are confined 

 to the upper part of the frond. The Irish plant is very scaly at 

 the back, a character scarcely observable in those from Scotland 

 and Wales. 



I have already said that I believe the Linnean Lonchitis to be 

 identical with my lonchitiform variety of aculeatum ; it may then 

 be inquired how I can presume to give the Linnean name to a new 

 plant ; in reply, I observe, that the name of Lonchitis will never 

 be abandoned while there is a single botanist who believes that 

 Lonchitis and aculeatum are distinct ; if, therefore, Lonchitis, as 

 a name, is to be retained, let us apply it to that plant which is 

 unvarying. 



