278 LASTREA FILIX-MASr. 



GiGANTEA, Loive. — Found near Marwood, Devonshire, by 

 the Rev. F, Mules. Normal in form, and gigantic in size. 

 Length of fronds fifty inches, width ten inches. The pinnae 

 very close together, ascending, and therefore making the frond 

 narrow, the pinnae being eight inches in length, and one inch 

 and a quarter wide at the base. The frond nearly equal in 

 width, slightly narrowing at the base, where eight wide, 

 and rapidly narrowing at the apex. Stipes and rachis 

 densely scaly; the base of the stem an inch in diameter, and 

 at nine inches above the base half an inch, densely clothed 

 with rich reddish brown scales, so thick as to make the stem 

 appear an inch and a half in diameter. The pinnce commence 

 six inches above the base. The upper thirty-four inches 

 entirely covered on the under side of the frond with spore- 

 cases from the base to the apex of the pinnae. The lower 

 half of the pinnse having from ten to twelve spore-cases on 

 each pinnule, the central pinnae having from two hundred and 

 ten to two hundred and twenty spore-cases on each, which 

 are large in size, and very prominent. Pinnae attenuated into 

 a sharp point. Pinnules long, with a rounded apex; the 

 edges smooth and entire, except the rounded apex, which is 

 slio'htly dentate; the pinnules are copiously scaly on the under 

 side of the frond, and extending beyond the margin as a 

 fringe of narrow hair-like scales. It is unnecessary to give 

 an illustration. My thanks are due to the Rev. F. Mules for 

 fronds. 



Flexuosa, Moore. — Found by Mr. S. Appleby, near Doncaster. 

 A sub-variety of deorso-lohata, differing in the main-rachis 

 being curiously and strongly twisted in a zigzag manner, the 

 secondary rachides being also tortuously curved. 



Cri&pata, Wollaston. — Perfectly normal, except that it is 

 erispy-waved in every part of the frond. Found in Devonshire 

 by Mr. G. B. Wollaston, and near Levens, Lancashire, by Mr. 

 T. M. Barnes. A form of Lastrea pseudo-mas. 



Tektjiformis, WoUastofi. — A form of Lastrea filix-ma» 

 found near Swinnerton, in Staffordshire, by Mr. G. B. Wollaston. 

 As its name implies it is a delicate, graceful form of the 



