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The following papers were read : — 



1. 'On Lastrea uliginose, Newm. By Thomas Moore, F.L.S.' In this 

 communication theauthor begins by stating that he has had ample op- 

 portunities of examining this fern, both in a dried state and under culti- 

 vation, and finds it sufficiently distinct in a growing state to be separated 

 without hesitation from the allied species. Still two questions sug- 

 gest themselves. First, Is it really new to England ? — and secondly, 

 Is it specifically distinct ? To both these he replies in the negative ; 

 yet he considers that the existence of such an intermediate form jus- 

 tified Linneus and others of the older botanists in having included 

 under one species spinosa and cristata. " The existence of a fern 

 exactly intermediate between them, as uliginosa is, and differing from 

 both in no character whatever, seems to explain all the doubts and 

 difficulties, the ' great confusion,' as Newman has it, respecting the 

 crested fern." In support of the view that uliginosa is not new to 

 England the author says he " shall merely quote Newman, who, 

 writing some years since of L. spinosa, remarks, ' it occurs frequently 

 in marshes, and there, mingling with cristata, so closely approaches 

 it in appearance that I have found the greatest difficulty in separating 

 them.' " As to the absence of characters sufficient to justify the rais- 

 ing uliginosa to the rank of a species, Mr. JMoore observes that diffe- 

 rent opinions will no doubt be held. He continues, " From the first 

 it has appeared to me as being intermediate between the two species 

 just named [spinosa and cristata], but before having seen the barren 

 fronds, which the plant, I believe, constantly produces, I was led to 

 think it more closely allied to spinosa than to cristata. Mr. Lloyd 

 himself thinks it intermediate between these two kinds ; and Mr. 

 Newman calls it ' almost precisely intermediate,' which in fact it is. 

 Its relationship thus seems clear enough ; but I do not agree in the 

 conclusion which has been drawn, namely, that being thus interme- 

 diate, it cannot be referred to either species as a variety, and must 

 either combine them into one, or itself be regarded as as species." 

 Mr. Moore then observes that its more acuminate, more divided, more 

 serrated, more aristate pinnules, which have been correctly said to 

 separate it from cristata, unite it to spinosa, and the adnate, decur- 

 rent pinnules, together with the outline of the barren fronds, which 

 separate it from spinosa, imite it to cristata. The erect, rigid habit, 

 obovate, diaphanous, concolorous scales, entire, eglandulose invo- 

 lucre, are common to both the proximate species : but the more equal 

 distribution of sori over the frond, described as a character of ulisri- 

 nosa, is unsound, since undoubted specimens of spinosa occur in 



