635 



the Forest ; the only kinds were Lastrea Filix-mas, L. Orcopteris, and 

 Blechnum boreale. 



On entering the forest-gate opposite the * Norfolk Arms ' we steered 

 westward ; and the scenery then presenting itself was beautiful in the 

 extreme. A real forest of ferns, as far as the eye could reach, com- 

 posed of the beautiful, delicately-coloured, and fragrant Lastrea Orco- 

 pteris, the plants in many places exceeding three feet in height. It 

 would have been impossible to have selected a more suitable time for 

 our journey, as far as regarded ferns ; and we wished that all who 

 study this beautiful portion of the vegetable kingdom could view them 

 under as favourable an aspect as ourselves, and in their native habi- 

 tats ; such opportunities assist more than the most elaborate descrip- 

 tions in dispelling the confusion of ideas now exhibited in some of 

 our books as to the specific limits of our native ferns. Never was L. 

 Oreopteris seen in such abundance and luxuriance as at this time, ac- 

 companied and intermixed with Athyrium Filix-foemina in endless vari- 

 ety. Allied to A. Filix-foemina, occurred a species perhaps identical with 

 that described by Mr. Newman in his ' Synoptical Table ' as Athyrium 

 convexum, which he describes as having " the rachis often beautifully 

 coloured with purple or red." This we believe to be a constant charac- 

 ter, and that in this species the rachis is always so coloured. We had 

 decided it to be a species previous to our knowledge of Mr. Newman's 

 having named and described it as such. The period of vernation in 

 A. convexum is invariably two or three weeks later than in A. 

 Filix-foemina. We found Lastrea spinosa abundantly in most parts 

 of the Forest. When growing in the bogs it assumes an appearance 

 a good deal resembling that of its near ally, L. uliginosa, its pinnules 

 often becoming decurrent. It is desirable to caution the young bota- 

 nist who may find it under such circumstances, from mistaking it for 

 that much rarer plant. In the same localities, and often closely ap- 

 proximate, we found Lastrea multiflora ; and to us it seems impossible 

 that any one should confound this with L. spinosa. Nothing can be 

 more dissimilar, even at a distance, than these two most distinct spe- 

 cies ; L. spinosa rarely attaining a height of two feet, while L. multi- 

 flora generally averages between four and five, and sometimes greatly 

 exceeds the latter. They grow together, in a light, loose soil, for 

 which both evince a decided liking. Lomaria or Blechnum was plen- 

 tiful enough, but Filix-mas was rarely to be seen, excepting here and 

 there a large plant, standing, like a sentinel, on the outskirts. 



The favourite habitat of L. Oreopteris appears to be near the banks 

 of streams or on somewhat moist soil, always showing a decided 



