ALI.OSORUS CRISPUS. 59 



created a new genus for the Rock Brakes. That it is a very 

 distinct Fern there can be no doubt, and Bernhardi did well 

 to make it a new genus. 



^\Tien the Allosorus crispus grows luxuriantly, the mountain 

 sides that are taken possession of by it, resemble at a distance 

 verdant meadows; and it is only on a near approach that this 

 vivid green resolves itself into the many-fronded plants of the 

 Rock Brakes. In the English lakes the mountain sides of 

 Lothrigg Fell and Fairfield are instances of this; and the former 

 being easily reached from Ambleside, will well repay the tourist 

 making its steep but not lengthy ascent. Lothrigg Fell is soon 

 reached from the principal inns of Ambleside, the ascent being 

 made on the Windermere side, not far from the lovely situated 

 church of Brathay. Passing through a steep field of Allosorus 

 crispus, the summit is gained, and on the one side there is the 

 Lily Tarn, spoken of by Wordsworth, backed in the distance 

 by Helvellyn, Fairfield, and Langdale Pike; whilst on the other, 

 overlooking the head of the lake, there is a magnificent and 

 never-tOTbe-forgotten view down AVindermere, especially from 

 the stone-piled erection left by the ordnance survey. Here the 

 artist has a vast scope for his pencil, whilst the poet fails in 

 words expressive enough in his endeavour to describe what he 

 sees before him; painting in the language of inspiration, or 

 delineatinsr on canvas such scenes as these, are indeed tasks of 

 no ordinary kind, and each must feel dissatisfied with his labours 

 when he sees they fall short of the reality. 



In Allosorus crispus the sterile and fertile fronds are different. 

 The sterile ones are bi-tripinnate, the pinnae alternate or sub- 

 opposite, (more especially below,) spreading, and triangular-ovate 

 in form, the lowest pinnae being the largest, and each succeediag 

 pair diminishing rapidly in size towards the apex. The pinnules, 

 which are ovate, are largest on the posterior side; they are 

 pinnate or pinnatifid. The lobes are obovate-cuneate, having 

 bifid lobules with acute incurved teeth, the smaller ones not 

 bifid, but having linear acute teeth. The frond smooth, usually 

 the leafy portion half the length of the frond, frequently more. 

 The fertile fronds contracted, the leafy portion being only half 

 the length of the stipes. Tri-quadripinnate, the pinnae spreading 

 and ovate, pinnules pinnate, ovate, pinnato-pinnatifid, or bi- 

 pinnate, lobes stalked, linear or linear-oblong. 



K 



