LASTREA. 119 



Lastrea dilatata grows more spreading, has still broader 

 or ovate lance-shaped fronds, and the stipes is clothed with 

 lance-shaped scales, which are darker-coloured in the centre 

 than at the margins. This is a very variable plant. 



Lastrea fcenisecii grows spreading, and has fronds smaller 

 than the last ; they are triangular, bipinnate, and the seg- 

 ments have their edge curved back so as to present a hollow 

 surface to the eye; the scales of the stem are narrow, 

 pointed, and jagged. 



Lastrea cristata itself, the Crested Fern, is not very ele- 

 gant, but of considerable interest on account of its rarity. 

 It forms a thick stem or root-stock, from which a limited 

 number of narrow, very upright fronds arise early in May, 

 and attain the average height of a couple of feet. The 

 fronds are destroyed in autumn by the frosts. Their out- 

 line is linear- oblong, that is, from a narrow width at the 

 base of the leafy portion say two and a half or three inches 

 in the case of fronds of the average height the margins 

 run nearly parallel almost to the apex, where they narrow 

 into a blunt point ; they are supported by a stipes which 

 rather exceeds a third the length of the entire frond, is pro- 

 portionally stout, and maintains this proportion upwards 

 through the leafy portion of the frond ; on the lower part it 



