328 LASTREA SPINULOSA. 



Hampshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Leicester- 

 shire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, 

 Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Westmoreland, and Cum- 

 berland. Li Wales, in Brecknockshire, Glamorganshire, Carnar- 

 vonshire, and Carmarthenshire. In Scotland, in Ross-shire, 

 Dumfriesshire, Edinburghshire, Forfarshire, Perthshire, Argyle- 

 shire, and Dumbartonshire. In Ireland, in Ullster, Munster, 

 Leinster, and Connaught. Isle of Wight, North Uist, Lewis 

 and Harris Isles. 



Fronds narrow, bipinnate, oblong-lanceolate in form; pinnae 

 triangular, oblique; pinnules oblong, acute, inciso-serrate, or 

 pinnatifid, lobes aristate; the posterior basal pinnules of the 

 basal pinnae much larger than the anterior basal pinnules. 



Caudex creeping and stoutish. 



Fronds erect, from two to five inches in length, and yellowish 

 green in colour, tapering at the apex. Stipes terminal, nearly 

 as long as the rachis, stoutish, rich brown purple at the base, 

 sparingly scaly, the scales pale brown and membranaceous. 



Rachis stoutish, channeled in front, pale green, and scarcely 

 scaly. 



Pinnae numerous, opposite or sub-opposite below, the basal 

 ones distant; in the basal pinnae the posterior pinnules are 

 nearly two inches in length. Pinnae stalked, more or less 

 drooping, frequently twisting upwards. Pinnules oblong, acute, 

 broadest at the base, the basal ones pinnatifid almost to the 

 midrib, having oblong, acute lobes. 



Lobes conspicuously serrated with spinulose teeth pointing 

 upwards. 



Barren fronds broader. 



Fructification mostly confined to the upper half of the frond, 

 occasionally extending throughout the whole length of the frond. 



Sori numerous, forming a line on either side of the midvein, 

 sometimes crowded. Indusium entire on the margin, without 

 glands. 



Nana, Sim. — Only six inches high. Constant in this dwarf 

 pigmy character, which is its peculiarity. 



Crispa, Moore. — Found near Sheffield. Very rigid, the 

 margins of the lobes closely rolled back, and partially hiding 

 the sori. Sori very large and very dark in colour. This 



