132 THE FLORIST. 



REMARKS ON BRITISH FERNS. 



NO. III. 



[Continued from p. 111.] 



4. Lastr.ea spinosa. This Fern usually grows in the vicinity of 

 water, but rarely, if ever, directly in it. The decaying roots of 

 trees and shaded moist ditch-banks are its favourite habitats. It, 

 however, succeeds well in cultivation in a light sandy loara, or, in 

 fact, in almost any common garden soil. The present plant belongs 

 to a group of Ferns which have long been in a state of confusion, 

 arising doubtless, in a great measure, from the very great number 

 of descriptions and figures of the same plant in different stages of 

 its growth, I have often met with L. spinosa, gradually passing, as 

 I supposed, into the following (L. dilatata), which I consider to be 

 the extreme state of growth of the whole group. That they may 

 easily be confounded by the young inexperienced botanist in their 

 progress from one stage of their growth to another is what, I sup- 

 pose, no one in any way conversant with British Ferns will pre- 

 tend to deny. I am not, however, without thinking that soils and 

 situations are not wanting in their effect on the different transitions 

 to which they are repeatedly subjected. 



5. L. DILATATA. Uudcr cultivation this requires similar treat- 

 ment to the last ; for wherever L. spinosa is met with in its native 

 habitats, L. dilatata is certain to be near at hand, and, in all proba- 

 bility, some intermediate forms, apparently approaching to the pre- 

 sent plant ; hence it is that I am inclined to arrive at the conclusion 

 that L. dilatata must be the extreme state of the group. Neverthe- 

 less, to the indifferent observer, no two plants, in certain stages of 

 their growth, present a greater appearance of distinction. I am 

 quite aware that several of the intermediate forms so very peculiar 

 to this group have from time to time been converted into species, 

 according, doubtless, to the conscientious opinions formed of their 

 distinctive characters by those who were fortunate enough to detect 

 them. This, however, I cannot very readily subscribe to, as it must 

 ultimately place the whole section in a complete mass of confusion ; 

 for really, after many years of familiarity with British ferns, I am 

 even now asked for species that I never knew but by name. 



I wish to speak with all due deference of the opinions of others 

 respecting this perplexing group ; still it is but natural that I should 

 have one of my own. In some of my wanderings I have seen noble 

 specimens, three feet high, of this Fern, with the fronds for the most 

 part tripinnate and the pinnules very convex and but slightly spi- 

 nulose ; in this state it would be very difficult to say how old the 

 plants might be, as also in a state or form which I have met with in 

 several situations, and which I considered to be the next, or younger 

 form of the above. This form is very similar to the Allantodia 

 Australis ; and those who are acquainted with the one may very 

 readily detect the other. But, however, they are not similar in 



