196 



ASPLENIUM MARINUM. 



the apex, and the branches dichotomously forked or twice 

 dichotomous. Mr. Moore describes one frond in his "Nature 

 Printed British Ferns," which has the rachis divided about 

 two thirds up; below the ramification are eight small pinnae, 

 the rachis then divides into five branches of an inch in length, 

 forming a spreading apex two inches and a half broad, and 

 one of these branches is furcate. 



^^^^^^^ 



Fig. 545.— Lower pinna. 



Fig. 546.— Middle portion. 



TnoMPSONiiE, Loioe. (Figs. 545 and 546.) — This very distinct 

 Fern was found, I believe, in Devonshire, by the late Mr. 

 C. Jackson, and is now in the possession of Mrs. Thompson, of 

 South Lawn, Exeter, being one of a number of very fine varieties 

 of British Ferns in the possession of Mrs. Thompson. The length 

 is fourteen inches, being widest at the base, and very gradually 

 narrowing to the apex. The pinnae are alternate, narrow and 

 long, and very conspicuously auricled, especially so in the 

 basal pinnas; the superior margin is crenate-serrate and biden- 

 tate, yet not deeply divided; the inferior margin, on the 

 contrary, is very deeply cut into narrow segments, some of 

 the basal ones being even stipitate with the costa, and as these 

 segments are more or less at right angles to the costa, the 

 plant has a much laciniated appearance in a regular manner. 

 Stipes and rachis ebeneous. I am indebted to Mrs. Thompson 

 for fronds of this very beautiful variety. 



