THE CRESTED BUCKLER FEEN. 



Lastrea cristata,* PEESL. 



Lastrea cristata, L. uliginosa, and L. spinulosa, 

 constitute a group distinguishable by habit and other 

 characters from the allied dilatata group, with which 

 the more highly -developed form spinulosa is sometimes 

 associated. "In our 'Handbook of British Ferns 

 (2nd ed.)," says Moore, "this group was treated as 

 consisting of three forms of one not very variable 

 species ; and notwithstanding that many Fern authori- 

 ties do not appear to adopt this view, we have no 

 doubt whatever that the plants possess a close natural 

 affinity, and have characters which separate them from 

 the forms of Lastrea dilatata, however similar to the 

 latter, in some cases, may be the degree and mode of 

 division in the fronds points on which botanists are 

 at times too prone to rely. The close affinity of the 

 three forms now alluded to is evidenced by marks far 

 more important than those to be derived from such 

 characters as the outline or cutting of the fronds, 

 namely, by the creeping caudex, by the erect narrow 

 fronds, by the sparse and pallid broad appressed scales 

 of the stipes, and by the entire indusia, in all which 



* Polypodium cristatum (Linnceus). 



E 2 



