LASTREA FILIX-MAS. 281 



Mr. Wollaston has studied Lastrea Jilix-mas more than any 

 one, and moreover is an authority in which we must put 

 confidence; we have therefore fallen in with his views, 

 although some of our authorities will not agree with this new 

 division of a British species, whilst others go even further 

 and say that even Lastrea cristata and Lastrea csmula are 

 only forms of Lastrea jilix-mas. 



KECAPITULATION. 



Prodtjcta. — Mr. Elworthy has found this variety near !N'ettlecombe. 

 Length of frond twenty-six inches, width eight inches; pinnse ascending, 

 (the longest as much as five inches,) widest in the middle of the frond; 

 pinnae short and horizontal at the base. Stipes five inches, covered 

 with pale brown scales. Sori copious on the upper half only of the 

 frond. 



Eamosa, Stansfield. — A curious branching variety, with various formed 

 pinnae and very large pinnules, thin in texture, and vividly green in 

 colour. The pinnules near the base are deeply divided, and those near 

 the apex shallowly, strongly dentate. Length of frond twelve inches. 

 The branched apex ascending, the branches overcrossing each other. 



ScnoFiELDii, Moore, {Minima, Wollaston.) — We have described this 

 beautiful pigmy variety at page 266. It was formerly considered a 

 variety both of Lastrea sj>itiulosa and Lastrea dilatata. 



FuRCANS, Moore. — There is a sub-variety of furcans, in which the 

 furcations are wide spread, being almost at right angles to the pinna, 

 and somewhat resemble the horns of a cow. 



PoLTDACTTLA, MooTC. — Also found at Eedditch, in 1860, by Mr. Gold, 

 fronds of which have been forwarded by Mr. Mapplebeck. See page 250. 



