252 REVIEWS. [August 



On the Neio and Rare Varieties of Blechnum Spicant. By Mr. 

 A. Stansfield, Todmorden. 



This paper was merely announced in the April number of the 

 ' Phytologist/ and a more detailed account was promised. This 

 promise is now to be redeemed. 



In Mr. Robert Sim's Catalogue^ recent edition, besides the 

 typical or normal form, B. Spicant, there are entered four varie- 

 ties : — 



B. multifidum, which is like the type, with the barren fronds 

 once or twice divided. 



B. lancifolium, characterized by narrow, barren and fertile 

 fronds, neither above half an inch wide. A rare, very pretty, 

 and high-priced variety. 



B. heterophyllum, which combines the above three forms. A 

 fine but irregular variety. This is also a valuable Fern. 



B. ramosum is described by Mr. Sim as having prostrate, or 

 nearly prostrate, barren fronds ; and both barren and fertile fronds 

 are beautifully crested, like Asplenium Trichomanes, var. crista- 

 tum. The commercial value of this plant is apocryphal or fabu- 

 lous. 



B. strictum has narrow, wavy, toothed or lobed fronds, de- 

 scribed as a Fern, a new and striking variety. 



Mr. Moore, in his ' Handbook of British Ferns,' describes the 

 above varieties both verbally and pictorially. 



The following are some of the most striking of Mr. Stansfield's 

 varieties, viz. : — 



1. Blechnum concinnum, which corresponds in some characters 

 yf\i\\ B. strictum, Cat. 11. Sim. Fronds very narrow, only one- 

 eighth to one-fourth of an inch wide. This very beautiful, rare, 

 unique (?) variety was found in Wales, on the road from Bettws-y- 

 Coed and Capel Curig, near the summit of the pass. 



Numbers 2 and 3, viz. B. lancifolium and B. strictum, were 

 also found in North Wales. 



4. B. subserratum, found in Yorkshire, supposed to be unde- 

 scribed, and is said to be more distinctly pinnate than any other 

 variety. The normal form is pinnatifid. 



5. B. imbricaium, lobes of the fertile fronds not much longer 

 than those of the sterile fronds ; all imbricated. For 6, 7, 8, 9, 

 10, we beg to refer to Mr. Stansfield's interesting paper. 



