286 LASTREA DILATATA, 



most abundant between Reinosa and Allar, on one of the spurs 

 of the Pyrenees, known by tbe name of the Villia Escusa, 

 here it spread its branches over the chasms on the rocks, and 

 afforded shelter to the numerous wolves that inhabit these 

 mountains. It is also said to be a native of New Zealand. 



A plant requiring no skill in its cultivation, preferring 

 a shady situation and decayed leaves, yet growing well in any 

 kind of soil. In woods of some years standing, where the 

 subsoil is a cold clay, the roots spread themselves in the 

 decaying leaves close to the surface, so that the plants can be 

 removed by merely pulling at the fronds, under such circum- 

 stances they seem more especially to delight. In wet situations 

 five or six hundred feet above the sea, they grow in more 

 exposed situations, as amongst the grass in the fields along 

 Longridge Fell, between Preston and Clitheroe; here I found 

 them much more stunted in growth, the fronds almost cuneate, 

 more rigid, recurved, and richer in the green colour of the 

 fronds. 



A very handsome subevergreen Fernery plant. 



Very prolific in varieties, some of which are exceedingly 

 distinct. 



Included in this species are several forms that will eventually 

 be raised to the dignity of species. We have the normal form, 

 sjnnulosa, uliginosa, collina, glandulosa, and others all strikingly 

 different, and amongst these uliginosa and another very similar 

 variety can hardly be said to be varieties of L. dilatata. I 

 would have considered uliginosa and another form closely 

 resembling it as forms of the same Fern, yet one is always 

 found growing in boggy situations, associated with Lastrea 

 cristata and L. oreopteris ; whilst the other is found in dry 

 woods, where these two species could not exist; then again 

 on removing these plants to a Fernery, if the one found in 

 boggy places is planted high and dry, it soon dwindles away 

 in the same manner as Lastrea cristata; whilst the other is 

 equally unfortunate if planted in situations favourable to 

 Lastrea cristata. 



I am quite convinced that however much Lastrea uliginosa 

 and Lastrea spinulosa agree with Lastrea cristata, they do not 

 belong to that species. I have watched these plants in various 

 places, and living near Oxton Bog, a well-known locality for 



