ATHYRIUM FILlX-r(EMlNA. 17 



to the varieties so named in Lastrca species, with the peculiar 

 sub-imbricate pinnules of Monkmanii. The apices of fronds 

 and pinnae are bifid or trifid, rarely approaching a crest. Mr. 

 Monkman visited the station in Troutbcck, in 1863, and found 

 two more plants. An illustration is not needed. 



MuLTiFiDUM, 3Ioore. (Plate XXXVI.) — A most beautiful, 

 symmetrical, and graceful Fern, although a monstrosity. It 

 was originally found in Ireland, near Seven Churches, County 

 Wicklow, by Mr. D. Moore, of the Glasnevin Gardens, Dublin; 

 other very similar forms have since been found in County 

 Clare by the late Dr. Kinahan; in Killarney by Mr. Ogilby; 

 in the lake district of Westmoreland, now in the possession of 

 Mr. G. B. Wollaston; and in Scotland at the base of Ben 

 Lawers by Mr. W. Marshall, of York. This variety is analogous 

 to the cristate variety of Lastrea filix-mas. The fronds are 

 two to three feet in length, and nine or ten inches in width. 

 Normal in habit, broadly lanceolate, and somcAvhat lax. The 

 characteristic difference of this variety consists in the apices of 

 the fronds, and also of the pinnro and pinnules being beauti- 

 fully tasseled, or divided into dichotomously branched narrow 

 segments. In the many times dichotomously branched apices 

 of the pinnules the tips of the segments are spread out and 

 incised. The pinnules are oblong-acute, subfalcate, pinnatifid, the 

 points of the lobes recurving, as in the variety rhceticum, and 

 thus in some degree detracting from the beauty of the fronds, 

 giving them a curled appearance, although the beauty is not 

 marred to any great extent. JNIy thanks are due to Mr. Sim, 

 of Foot's Cray; jMr. Monkman, of Malton; to Mr. Kennedy, 

 of Covent Garden; to Mr. E. Cooling, of Derby; and to Mr. 

 Veitch, of the Exotic Nurseries, Chelsea, for plants; and to 

 the same gentlemen, and to Mr. G. B. Wollaston, of Chiselhurst, 

 for fronds. 



MuLTiFiDUM-RAMOSUM, Moore. — Eaiscd from spores by Mr. 

 Clapham, of Scarborough. Fronds broad and short, they 

 are more lax and slender than in the ordinary form of mul- 

 tijidum, the pinna3 being often unequally branched. Pinnules 

 also narrower, and somewhat depauperated, and their apices 

 more raggedly multifid. Mr. Moore remarks that the fronds 

 VOL. II. D 



