SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGAllE. 231 



I found very few plants in Northern Spain, a few specimens 

 being now and then met with at Santandcr, and here and 

 there along the passes between Las Caldas and lieinosa. In 

 the neighbourhood of Nottingham it is only met with clothing 

 the sides of wells, and on rocks more especially near Bramcote; 

 at Matlock and Cromford, in Derbyshire, and at Chaigeley 

 ISIanor, Lancashire, it is abundant in damp Avoods — very different 

 situations to the exposed cliffs at Scarborough Castle, or the 

 low banks close to the sea at Morecambe Bay. 



Being very hardy and evergreen are other recommendations 

 to its cultivation as regards its normal form, then again the 

 immense number of extraordinary varieties have among them 

 scores of beautiful and remarkable dissimilarities. 



The normal fronds are broadly-linear or oblong strap-shaped; 

 entire, with an attenuated apex; base caudate. Stipes scaly. 



Caudex brief, thick, and tufted, with a scaly crown. 



Stipes usually one third the length of the frond. 



Length of frond from two inches to above two feet, deep rich 

 green, and fleshy in texture. Fructification abundant, usually 

 most so towards the apex. 



Sori linear, oblique, and growing in pairs. 



The varieties are so numerous, and their characters so 

 distinct from the normal form, that a description of the usual 

 frond gives a very inadequate idea of this remarkable species. 

 We shall therefore at once proceed to describe this numerous 

 family of departures from the normal form. 



Crenato-lobatum, Moore. (Fig. 594.) — A large-growing 

 elegant variety found at Ilfracombe, Devon, by the Rev. J. 

 M. Chanter; at Barnstaple by the late Mr. C. Jackson; Salt- 

 wood, Kent, by Mr. F. Brent; at White Waltham, Berkshire, 

 by Mr. D. Maher; at Castle Howard, Yorkshire, by Messrs. 

 Stansfield; at Coxwold and Mowthorpe Dale, Yorkshire, bv 

 Mr. C. Monkman; at Whitby, by Mr. W. Willison; and in 

 Guernsey by the late jNIr. C. Jackson, and by ]\Ir, J, James, 

 of Vauvert. The size and outline of this Fern is normal, 

 sometimes, however, as in the Oidstead examples, being widest 

 at the centre of the frond. The margin (and more especially 

 in the upper portion) is distinctly crenato-lobate, and occasionally 



