LASTREA. Ill 



the upper portion of tlie frond, and often remarkably so ; 

 less frequently it extends downwards to the pair of pinnge 

 next above the basal ones. The spots of spore-cases are 

 covered by a kidney-shaped scale or indusiura, having an 

 entire margiuj and become mature in August and Sep- 

 tember. 



This species occurs only on boggy heaths, and that in 

 but few i^laces in Britain, confined, we believe, to the 

 following counties : — Nottinghamshire, Cheshire, Norfolk, 

 and Suffolk. It is easily cultivated, either in a pot, or 

 planted in a damp somewhat shady situation, and prefers 

 a peaty soil. 



The variety uliginosa, the L. ul'ujlnosa of Newman, is 

 exactly intermediate in its general appearance and its 

 characters between cristata and spinulosa — these three 

 plants agreeing, in their erect habit, pallid blunt scales, 

 and creeping caudex. This Fern forms a stout creeping 

 crown or root-stock, having a tendency to multiply by 

 lateral offshoots. The stipes has ovate pallid scales. The 

 fronds grow nearly erect to the height of from two to three 

 feet ; and these erect fronds bear the fructification. Other 

 fronds, however, arc produced, which are barren, and do 

 not grow so erect, nor put on the same form as the fertile 



