I860.] LASTKEA IlEMOTA. 83 



sidered to belong to that species ; but its affinity is clearly with 

 Lastrea Filiw-mas. The outline of the frond is that of vigorous 

 examples of L. spinulosa. The pinnules somewhat resemble 

 L. Filix-mas incisa, but they are more decidedly stalked, more 

 ovate and acute, and so much divided that the fronds become 

 almost or quite tripinnate. The fructification is quite that of 

 L. Filix-mas. 



There will no doubt be, as there already has been, a differ- 

 ence of opinion as to the distinctness of this plant. Prof. Braun 

 at first referred it to Aspidium rigidum, but subsequently re- 

 garded it as a distinct species, in which view he was followed 

 by several botanists of high repute as pteridologists, namely, 

 Kunze, Fee, and Mettenius. It appears, however, from speci- 

 mens recently received from Prof. Braun, that he now considers 

 it a variety of Filix-mas, which is also the view Mr. Clowes 

 was at first inclined to adopt. No doubt the locality will be 

 thoroughly searched in the ensuing season, and the plants sub- 

 mitted to various tests ; but in the meantime, I may state that 

 Lastrea remota appears to me to have reasonable claim to be 

 distinguished from all the allied Ferns. 



The following are its more prominent characters : — 



Lastrea remota : fronds oblong-lanceolate, subtripinnate, gla- 

 brous ; pinnae acuminate, distant below ; pinnules distinct, pyra- 

 midal or ovate-oblong, acute, shortly petiolate below, sessile, with 

 a narrow attachment, or more or less adnate upwards, the basal 

 ones pinnatifid almost to the costa ; lobes oblong, blunt, serrated, 

 the serratures acute, mucronulate; sori copious over the whole 

 frond, biserial near the costa ; indusium reniform, persistent, ob- 

 scurely eroso-dentate, without glands; caudex stout, ascending; 

 stipes and rachis stout, scaly. 



L. remota, Moore, Index Filicum, 102. 



Aspidium remotum, A. Braun, Verjung. 330; Metten. Fil. 

 Hort. Bot. Lips. 93. 



Aspidium rigidum, /3. remotum, A. Braun, Doll. Rh. Fl. 16. 



Polystichum remotum, Koch, Syn. ed. 2, 979. 



It may be well to mention that the plant, which had at first 

 been gathered as a mere form of one of our common species, was 

 determined too late in the season to admit of being again suc- 

 cessfully searched for. 



Chelsea. 



