1857.] FIFESHIRE FERNS. 263 



FIPESHIEE PEENS. 

 By Charles Howie. 



The distribution of Ferns^ over a county so highly cultivated 

 as Fife, is principally confined to primitive crags, subalpine woods, 

 and the sides of water-run dens, where murmuring streams pre- 

 sent a monument of departed marsh, where Ferns luxuriate with 

 grace and beauty. 



Polypodium vulgare, L. Abundant on the sea-cliffs east of 

 St. Andrews, covering old walls, crags, and rocky dens, and the 

 stems of moss-clad trees. 



Polypodium Dryopteris, L. Abundant in Ardrie Woods, 

 Drumcarro Crag, etc. 



Polypodium Phegopteris, L. Under shaded rocks, Kenly Den, 

 and Lommonds ; sparingly. 



Allosorus crispus, Bernhardi. On West Lommonds and Drum- 

 carro Crag; sparingly. 



Cystopteris fragilis, Bernhardi. In Ghoul's Den, Lommonds, 

 Ardrie Woods, etc. — Var. Dickieana. East seacoast ; sparingly. 



Polysticlmm aculeatum, Roth. Presenting various forms ; the 

 var. lobatum, in Kenly Den, occasionally dividing at the stipes, 

 presenting separate fronds, others dividing at the apex of the 

 rachis. 



Lastrea Oreopieris. Abundant on the West Lommonds, Tent's 

 Muirs, and generally met with sparingly over the county. 



Lastrea Filiw-mas, Presl. Of universal distribution, present- 

 ing marked variations. — The var. incisa is in luxuriant form on 

 Mount Hill, Cupar. A form approaching ahbreviata is found on 

 the east seacoast, and the beautiful form paleacea is found in 

 several alpine woods. The variety bifurcata, found by Dr. Lyall 

 near Newburgh, although not constant in the forked rachis at 

 the apex of its pinnules, presents a lanceolate and serrated out- 

 line to mark the variety, 



Lastrea spinulosa. In subalpine woods, sparingly distributed. 



Lastrea dilatata, Presl. Abundant over the county, present- 

 ing marked variations. — Var. glandulosa. Under the shade of 

 rocks, by the seacoast. 



Athyrium rhceticum, Roth. On Fife Ness, associated with 

 other species. — A similar variety, with purple stipes and rachis ; 



