258 



LASTREA FILIX-MAS. 



twenty-four inches, width six to nine inches. The crispy tuft 

 or tassel largest on the basal pinnae, becoming smaller towards 

 the apex, except the terminal tassel, which is flattish and 

 drooping; many forked, spreading, and large. A variety of the 

 true Lastrea filix-mas. 





Fig, 208.— Frond, natural size. 



MiKRA, Lowe. (Fig. 208.) — This Fern is known as pro- 

 pinqua-cristata, but as the variety propinqua will have to be 

 raised to the dignity of a species, and as the well-known variety 

 Lastrea Filix-mas cristata is in reality a form of Lastrea 

 propinqua, it is obvious that this name will require to be 

 changed, and, from the smallness of the plant, mikra has been 

 selected. Length of frond two inches and a half; width one 

 inch in the widest part. Pinnee equal in size, except near the 

 apex of the frond, where furcate and crested; pinnse alternate, 

 their apices flattened out into diminutive crests. Pinnules 

 decurrent, the basal pair (which are the largest) alone divided 

 almost to the costa. ' Minutely scaly. 



