973 



I then turned it into a border, with other ferns, and kept it two more 

 years ; and it still kept getting nearer to its full state of development. 



" I think that the above examples are sufficient to trace this species 

 in its transition from its young state to its fidl development ; but they 

 are only two amongst many. 



" If a young plant of this species is planted in an unfavourable 

 situation, it will remain stationary for years, or perhaps get less 

 divided than when first planted, but will always advance if properly 

 treated. In its wild state, it is very generally distributed, and may 

 probably be found in every English county. It appears to like a 

 loamy, or even a clay, soil; its favourite situation is a steep bank in a 

 shady lane ; and it is generally associated with P. angulare, and often 

 with Scolopendrium vulgare also. It does not transplant from its 

 wild state so well as its congener, being not so tufted, and more wiry, 

 as well as longer in its roots. When it has established itself under 

 cultivation, that character is not so easily observed ; but it is very 

 apparent in removing wild plants. 



" It may be mentioned, with respect to its distribution in the vici- 

 nity of London, that in Surrey you seldom meet with many plants 

 together, and that it is much scarcer than P. angulare ; whilst on the 

 opposite side of the Thames, in Middlesex, and particularly in Buck- 

 inghamshire, it is by far the most plentiful plant ; and in Kent and 

 Sussex the two appear to be about equal. 



" I inclose the frond first mentioned; a frond from the same plant 

 ten years ago ; a small frond from the plant with four crowns, which 

 were produced since it was transplanted in May, 1852 ; and the plant 

 itself, taken up and dried, showing the old caudex and young crowns; 

 so that any one who examines them may judge for himself They 

 are very unlike each other, and amply confirm Mr. Newman's obser- 

 vation that this is a protean fern." — John Lloyd ; Wandsworth. 



Gymnogramma leptophylla in Jersey. 



The President observed that he had received several communica- 

 tions respecting the occurrence of Gymnogramma leptophylla in 

 Jersey. All those from the island represent this fern as widely dis- 

 tributed, growing on the banks of exposed lanes having a southern 

 aspect, more especially in those localities in which the moistened soil 

 induces the growth of Marchantia, in the company of which plant it 

 appears particularly to flourish ; it also occurs, but not so frequently, 

 growing in moss. The principal localities are near St. Haule, near 

 VOL. IV. 6 I 



