300 



perfectly distinct from Filix-femina. The third was a mutilated frag- 

 ment, from the same source, in the autumn of the present year. And 

 lastly, seeing a variety of Filix-femina mentioned in the recently- 

 published third edition of Babington's Manual, as having been re- 

 ceived from Keswick, I applied to that distinguished botanist, and 

 he has most obligingly placed in my hands his specimens, together 

 with some valuable MS. notes. 



From a revision of these materials, and a reference to previously- 

 collected data, I have concluded : — 



1st. That it is also the Athyrium ovatura of Roth, Flora Germ. iii. 

 64 (1800) ; the description being cited in extenso, Newm. Ferns, 420. 



2nd. That it is the Athyrium Filix-femina, var. dentatum, Newm,. 

 Ferns, 243, except as regards the admission of Hoffmann's Filix- 

 femina (1844). 



3rd. That it is the Athyrium latifolium of Presl, Tent. Pterid. 98 

 (1836). 



4rd. That it is Asplenium Filix-femina, &. latifolium, of Hooker 

 and Amott's ' British Flora,' 574 (1850). 



5th. That it is the Athyrium Filix-femina, ^. latifolium, of Babing- 

 ton's Manual, 413 (1851). 



6th. That it is perfectly distinct as a species. 



•The admirable description of Roth, cited in B. Ferns, leaves nothing 

 to be desired or added. The later descriptions, of course my own 

 included, are insufficient to distinguish this species from its well- 

 known congener. 



It is necessary to add, that Roth cites two of Hoffmann's spe- 

 cies, Polypodium dentatum and P. Filix-femina, as identical with 

 ovatum ; but, whether this be so or not, it is certain that Hoffmann 

 departed from all rule in giving a new species a name already occu- 

 pied by an old one ; and there were both a Polypodium dentatum and 

 a Polypodium Filix-femina previously in the list. 



Cystopteris Dickeiana, Sim. 



This plant is very familiar to all cultivators ; it is the least divided 

 form of Cystopteris with which I am acquainted, and is instantly dis- 

 tinguished from all those forms known as fragilis, by its crowded, 

 scarcely pinnatifid, overlapping, twisted, deflexed pinnae, and its 

 small, circular, generally naked clusters of capsules. Tt is easily cul- 

 tivated, and increases freely, by lateral division of the roots, or from 

 seed, and in either instance retains its characters perfectly. 



It was fully described as a species by Mr. Sim, of Foot's Cray, in 

 Vol. IV. 3 b 



