26 



or pinnate, with serrate, spinose-mucronate lobes. Indusium 

 evanescent, fringed with stalked glands. Scales of the rachis long, 

 lanceolate, dark in the centre. 



Lastrea dilatata, Pvesl. BaUngton, Man. Aspidium spinulosum /9, 

 Hooker. Lophodium multiflorum, Newman, Hist. Brit. Ferns, 

 147. 



One of the most common and most generally distributed of 

 British ferns, growing in woods, and on sheltered hedge-banks, 

 throughout the kingdom. Contrary to the character of that of 

 L. spinulosa, the rhizoma of this species is not at all creeping, 

 rarely branches, but forms a strong, enduring, erect, stem-like 

 base, that, in very old specimens, not unfrequently rises from six 

 inches to a foot above the soil. The fronds grow symmetrically in 

 a circular or vase-like cluster, arching over in every direction so as 

 to occupy a considerable space, attaining, in mature plants and in 

 favourable situations, a length of five feet, with a breadth in the 

 widest part of a foot and a half; their ordinary size is, however, 

 considerably less, viz. from a foot and a half to two feet in length : 

 in general outline they vary from triangular to lanceolate or ovato- 

 lanceolate, the triangular form being characteristic of the young 

 plant, in which state it is often completely deltoid. The rachis is 

 clothed, especially toward the base, with long lanceolate or linear- 

 lanceolate, acuminated scales, of a deep brown or blackish hue 

 along the centre, and nearly diaphanous at the extremity and mar- 

 gins. Any particular description that might be given of the divi- 

 sions of the frond, beyond that already recorded under the specific 

 character, would be of little avail in the decision of a species so 

 protean as the present. The pinna? are distant, so much so in the 

 fructifying fronds as to frequently give a peculiarly meagre aspect 

 to the plant, especially when accompanied by that convexity of the 

 pinnules and lobes, which is an almost inseparable feature of the 

 most common variety in exposed situations. The venation is very 

 similar to that of L. spinulosa, and the situation of the sori on the 

 upper or anterior branches is accordant likewise. The indusium is 

 irregularly reniform, and ciliated with stalked translucent glands ; 

 it soon disappears. The fructification is less regularly disposed, 

 and instead of being chiefly confined to the upper end, as is the 

 case in the preceding, is scattered over the whole under surface of 

 the frond ; it is mature in August. 



Some of the forms of this fern are very elegant, when grown in 

 shade and plentifully supplied with water ; but although it bears 

 exposure well, and will live and even flourish under the circum- 

 stance, it soon loses all pretension to beauty, and remains disfigured 

 throughout the summer. The same treatment answers equally 

 well for this and L. spinulosa. 



