160 REPORT — 1861. 



forty years ago. It Is to Mr. Moore, of the Botanic Garden, Chelsea, in the 

 '•'Nature-printed Fems," that we are indebted for the bringing of the varieties of 

 this fern most prominently before the British pteridologist. 



Darin"- the la^t three 3'ears I and a few friends have examined some millions of 

 plants of the lihchnum Spicant in various parts of the United Kingdom, collecting 

 all the abnormal forms we could meet witli, afterwards carefully growing the;n, 

 watching sedulously their development, and noting their peculiarities. This, speak- 

 in o- for myself, whilst it has afforded me a fund of innocent enjojnnent, has enabled 

 me to report on the permanency of some forms and the fugacity of others, and 

 on the general characters of the whole. I purpose here noticing only the more 

 striking among the pemianent forms that have stood the test of cultivation, some 

 of them for two and others for three years. 



These have perfectly distinct and fixed characters, like species; and in those that 

 have been raised from spores, the complete identity of the parents has been main- 

 tained. For instance, out of ninety plants raised from the spores of Blechmon Spi- 

 ccmt mhserratum, no difference from the parent plant could be detected, whilst the 

 minutest peculiaiities were faithfully repeated. Thus a few of the lobes, both 

 of the fertile and barren fronds of the parent plants, were twins, or bilobate : the 

 young plants have all the same pecidiaiity. Out of seventy plants raised fi'oni 

 spores of Blechmon S. imbricatum, every plant seemed perfectly identical with tlie 

 parent. Out of 100 plants raised from spores of Ulechinon S. i-amosum, all had the 

 same ramosely cristate termination of the parent. 



Our ideas of species are exceedingly vague and indefinite, and indeed it may be 

 questioned whether they have any real foundation in natm-e. Doubtless great 

 numbers of plants now regarded as species are merely variations of other forms. Be 

 this as it may, we loiow that, the forms of Blechnum Spica»f, to wliich I am about 

 to refer, are vai'iations from a primary type, tliougii they possess specific dilferences 

 which in other genera would, I apprehend, be suHlcient to constitute them species. 

 But in whatever light we regard them, it is quite essential that we should give 

 distinct names to obviously distinct and permanent forms. 



The form of Blechnum ISpicant which first arrested my attention was the B. S. 

 concinnmn of Moore. It was so essentiallj' distinct from the common ti,'pe, and so 

 beautiful an object, that it determined mo at once to give the Blcchna a thorough 

 investigation. It was gathered in the valley of the Conway in Nortli Wales early 

 in 1859. I subsequently gathered it near tlio foot of Twelve Pins, Connemara, 

 Ireland, and in Thieveley Scouts, near BuiTdey, Lancashire. Fronds linear, from G 

 to 12 inches in length, and from j to i inch in breadth ; lobes very sliort, subrotuud, 

 and beautifLdly crenated on the margins. Fertile frond : lobes little more than 

 nodes bearing sori. In cultivation the linear outline of the frond is maintained, but 

 when liberally supplied with water the lobes become enlai-ged, so as to make a slight 

 approach to B, S. strictum, from which, however, it remains quite distinct. 



Blcchmm Spicant strictum (Moore). Fronds ovate-lanceolate, from to 12 inches 

 in length, and from ^ to I inch in breadth ; lobes mostly recurved, and distinctly 

 serrated on the margins. Fertile fi'ond longer than the ban-en, lobes short and ser- 

 rated on the margin. I have gathered this beautiful form in the valley of the 

 Conway, and near the Pass of Nant Francon in Wales, in Connemara, Ireland, 

 Vale of Todmordcn, Lancashu-e, and some other localities. It is perfectly constant 

 under cultivation, and a most interesting object. 



Blechmm S. lancifolium (Moore). Somewhat less than the normal t^-pe ; fronds 

 acutely lanciform, entu-e fr-om the apex to Jrd their lengtli ; fertile fronds still more 

 acutely lanciform, lobes much abbreviated above and below. This has been 

 gathered near Todmorden, Lancashii-e, Trefriw, North AVales, and in Connemara. 



Blechnum S. suhserratum (Moore). Size of tlie normal t}-pe ; fronds rather nar- 

 rower; lobes ascending, serrated on the inferioi-, and frequently aiu-icled on the 

 superior margin ; fertile fronds longer than the barren, lobes deeply serrated on tlie 

 inferior limb, fr-equeutly all but bipinnatifid. Gathered near Todmorden, and neai- 

 Castle Howard, Yorkshire. 



Blechnum S. imbricatum (Moore). Fronds from 4 to 6 inches long, and from 

 1 to 2 inches broad, nearly ovate in outline, thick and leathery in texture ; lobes 

 closely imbricated, recurved, the apical lobe t-wisted ; fertde fronds very little 

 longer than the barren. Gathered in the Vale of Todmorden, in Eosseudale, Lane, j 



