108 HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 



Another distinct variety, called dentata, is generally 

 smaller, and almost always blunter in the form of its parts ; 

 this grows from six to eight inches high, and has ovate-lan- 

 ceolate pinnae, with ovate, obtuse, pointless pinnules, which 

 are again divided on the margin into a series of short blunt 

 notches or teeth ; the venation is more simple, and the fructi- 

 fication is more marginal, than in any of the preceding forms. 



The most distinct of all the varieties, however, is one 

 which we have called Dickieana, after Dr. Dickie, its dis- 

 coverer ; it has a more compact frond than any of the pre- 

 ceding, grows from four to six inches in height, in outline 

 almost ovate, terminating in a point, the pinnse ovate-lanceo- 

 late, overlapping each other, the pinnules decurrent, broad, 

 obtuse, with a few shallow, marginal notches ; the texture is 

 very delicate and herbaceous, and the fructification marginal. 

 It is of a deep green, and has often a degree of translucency 

 which makes it very interesting ; it is a constant variety 

 under cultivation. 



The usual forms of this species occur abundantly in moist 

 mountainous districts, and also on walls, but generally in 

 moist rocky situations throughout the United Kingdom, 

 Ireland excepted, where it is comparatively rare. The same 

 species is very widely dispersed in various parts of the world. 



