678 



Attempt to characterize an apparently undescribed Species of 

 Lastrea. By Edward Newman. 



In describing Lastrea spinosa I have said " This fern is closely 

 allied to the preceding (L. cristata), and so much do they resemble 

 each other that I have found it next to impossible to fix on satisfac- 

 tory diagnostics whereby to distinguish them." In fact, in the splen- 

 did series of L. cristata received by the Botanical Society from Bawsey 

 Heath, there were specimens which 1 found myself unable to refer 

 with confidence to either species. About the same time I received 

 from the Rev. Geo. Finder specimens of a very singular fern, from 

 Wybunbury bog, in Cheshire : these I referred, without much hesita- 

 tion, to Lastrea spinosa : the Cheshire and Norfolk specimens were 

 so exceedingly dissimilar in general appearance, that it never occur- 

 red to me to compare them together with a view of ascertaining whe- 

 ther they possessed any characters in common. 



Early in August last, Mr. Lloyd, a gardener who has paid great atten- 

 tion to the British ferns, brought me a plant, well established in a pot, 

 of a fern which he considered new to Britain : he had previously 

 shown it to several eminent botanists, and especially those who have 

 paid attention to ferns : others have seen it since it has been in my 

 possession, and although I refrain from giving the names of six gentle- 

 men who have expressed opinions, however confidently, yet not intend- 

 ed for publication, I may perhaps be allowed to record the opinions 

 without the names. I should premise that the plant is in perfect vi- 

 gour, in full fructification, and without any symptom of disease or 

 malformation : these six gentlemen have pronounced it — 



1. A form of Filix-mas. 



2. Lastrea rigida. 



3. Lastrea cristata. 



4. Lastrea spinosa, a strong variety. 



5. Lastrea dilatata, a rigid variety. 



6. No way different from Lastrea spinosa, Newm., I mean, it would 

 hardly pass for a var. 



It is singular, that out of six high authorities no two entertain the 

 same opinion. The plant which has elicited such conflicting opi- 

 nions has fronds resembling those received both from Bawsey and 

 Wybunbury, and therefore establishes the specific identity of those 

 very dissimilar forms. I attempt to describe both under the name of 



