18G3.] THK FERNS OF BARMOUTH. 437 



at Artliog, etc. The Oak Fern (P. Dryopteris) is much less abund- 

 ant close to Barmouth, although it may be met with in the stony 

 grovmd above the Cors-y-gedol lakes, and is most plentiful in the 

 valley of the Mawddach above Llanelltyd. The Parsley Fern 

 [Allosorus crispus) is another which is scarce in the immediate 

 neighbourhood, although it is to be seen, mingled with Beech 

 Fern and the pretty Lastrea recurva (of which more shortly), on 

 a small length of old wall, not very far from Barmouth, and 

 happily in a very out-of-the-way spot, which we do not intend to 

 particularize further. The Cistoptens fragilis (Brittle Fern) grows 

 on Cader Idris, but like the Parsley Fern, which is also there in 

 profusion, may probably be found sparingly nearer to Barmouth. 

 Lastrea Oreopteris (Mountain Fern) will be found readily in the 

 lanes above Borthwen, and in many other places. The green 

 Spleenwort [Asplenium viride) grows upon Diphwys, and the Sea 

 Spleen wort [A . muriaum) on the shores of the estuary; but 

 these are in such small quantities that it is better to be rather 

 general in referring to their haunts, with a view to possible pecu- 

 lators.* 



Of the commoner Ferns, such as Male Fern, Lady Fern, Hard 

 Fern, Broad Fern, Black Spleenwort, Polypodium vulgare, As- 

 plenium Trichomanes, and Pteris aquilina, there is the utmost pro- 

 fusion. We invite attention to the varieties of Lady Fern, which 

 are worth noticing ; but still more to the wide field of study of- 

 fered by the various species and subdivisions of the Broad Fern. 

 On the peaty ditch-banks in the bogs, especially near Arthog, 

 we find the enormous dark-green scaly-stemmed fronds of the 

 true Broad Fern [Lastrea dilatata). It is probably the same 

 species which occurs among the rocks and stones, more or less 

 plentifully on all the hills. Whether the spinulosa, the narrow 

 upright marsh species, occurs in the neighbourhood, we are un- 

 able to say ; it may probably be found. But the walls in many 

 parts abound with dwarf varieties, among which a frequent type 

 is that described by Newman as Lastrea multiflora nana. The 

 gem however of this group of Ferns is the lovely Lastrea re- 

 curva, which seems to grow in this neighbourhood only on walls, 



* There can, however, be no harm in mentioning that the latter Fern also grows, 

 out of reach of depredators, in some caves below the road between Henddol and 

 Llwyngwril. The Ceterach officinarum may be found in small quantities at 

 Llanelltyd. 



