52 FERNS OF THE LAKE COUNTRY 



respects they perfectly agree. On the other hand, it 

 is in these points that they differ from the dilatata 

 group. In the folio edition of this work, we were led, 

 in deference to the more commonly received opinion, 

 to treat of spinulosa separately ; but after some years' 

 further observation, we revert to our former view, and 

 place it here under cristata"* 



To this it may be well to add the special distinctions 

 which characterize the whole group of what were once 

 called Crested Shield Ferns L. cristata, uliginosa, 

 spinulosa, dilatata, and cemula, although L. cristata is 

 only known in the Lake Country by its variety spinu- 

 losa, the true Crested Buckler Fern and var. uligi- 

 nosa occurring only in more southern counties. 



Lastrea cristata grows with very erect, narrow, ob- 

 long fronds, whose deltoid pinnae are not quite divided 

 down to the midrib, the lobes being attached by the 

 whole width of their base, and oblong, with a rounded 

 apex. The stipes is sparingly furnished with broad, 

 obtuse, membranous, whole-coloured scales ; and the 

 caudex is creeping. 



Lastrea uliginosa has two or three sorts of fronds. 

 One set, the earlier barren ones, resembles those of 

 cristata, the fertile being bipinnate at the bases of the 

 pinnae ; the fronds narrow-oblong, the lobes tapering 

 to a point. The scales of the stipes are broad, blunt, 

 and whole-coloured, and the caudex is creeping. This 

 connects cristata with spinulosa. 



Lastrea spinulosa grows erect ; has narrow, lance- 

 shaped, bipinnate fronds, rather more deeply divided 

 * Nature-Printed Tirilish Ferns, octavo edition, 1863. 



