44 



BRITISH FERNS. 



early in the spring, arrive in perfection in August and September, 

 and remain in perfect vigour throughout the winter. The fronds 



are always fertile. The form of 

 the frond is linear, lanceolate, and 

 pinnate ; the pinnae are crowded, 

 and extend quite to the base of 

 the rachis, which is clothed with 

 chaffy scales : the pinnae are some- 

 what crescent-shaped, auricled 

 on the upper side next the rachis, 

 and serrated, the serratures being 

 acutely spiny ; each pinna is 

 somewhat twisted, the auricled 

 portion projecting behind the 

 frond, which is altogether ex- 

 tremely rigid, and grows in an 

 erect position; it is of a deep 

 shining green colour, and almost 

 as stiff and prickly as a spike of 

 little holly leaves; so much so, 

 indeed, that the fronds are not 

 flattened for drying without con- 

 siderable difficulty. 



In the Irish specimens the masses 

 of thecae are most abundant to- 

 wards the apex of the frond, but 

 are scattered throughout the other 

 parts, even to its base; whereas, 

 in the specimens usually named 

 Lonchitis, from Scotland and 

 Wales, the masses are confined 



to the upper part of the frond. The Irish plant is very scaly at 

 the back, a character scarcely observable in those from Scotland 

 and Wales. 



I have already said that I believe the Linnean Lonchitis to be 

 identical with my lonchitiform variety of aculeatum ; it may then 

 be inquired how I can presume to give the Linnean name to a new 

 plant ; in reply, I observe, that the name of Lonchitis will never 

 be abandoned while there is a single botanist who believes that 

 Lonchitis and aculeatum are distinct ; if, therefore, Lonchitis, as 

 a name, is to be retained, let us apply it to that plant which is 

 unvarying. 



