55 



only a variety of spinosa or cristata, but of which I was at a loss to 

 decide. I showed it to several botanical friends of mine, and they 

 appeared as much perplexed as myself, some considering it a variety 

 of one thing, and others diflfering from them, I named it to Mr. 

 Lloyd, and inquired of him further particulars respecting its locality, 

 &c., and he assured me that he had previously noticed the different 

 characters of this fern, but supposed it merely a variety of L. cristata. 

 Mr. Lloyd sent specimens to several botanists, requesting their opi- 

 nions upon it, but no two of them arrived at the same conclusion ; 

 consequently it appears to form a connecting link amongst nearly the 

 whole of the species of the genus Lastrea; but after cultivating it for 

 four seasons without its characters in the least altering, I most deci- 

 dedly agree with Mr Lloyd and others in considering it as much 

 deserving to rank as a species as either Lastrea spinosa, cristata, or 

 multiflora. It would be superfluous on my part to attempt an 

 explanation of its distinctive characters after the lucid manner in 

 which Mr. Newman has pointed them out in the ' Phy tologist ' for 



October, 1849. 



Charles Wood. 

 Wandsworth Common, 

 February 10,1851. 



A Word more on Lastrea iiliginosa. By Edward Newman. 



I can imagine the reader begins to feel nauseated with this sub- 

 ject, but I cannot resist the temptation to invite his attention to a 

 passage in a former number (Phytol. iii. 101), where he will find that 

 the distinguished Professor Braun, of Freiburg, whose name ranks 

 high among European pteridologists, had previously described the 

 same fern, found in the bog at Freiburg, in company with cristatuni, 

 under the same name. I beg to refer the reader to the page above 

 mentioned ; he will there find a translation of Braun's description, 

 which, accompanied by the habitat, leaves little doubt as to the iden- 

 tity of the two plants. I feel that I have to apologise to the readers 

 of the ' Phytologist ' for introducing a second description when the 

 first would have sufficed. 



Edward Newman. 

 9, Devonshire St., Bishopsgate. 



