Polystichum.'] FILICES. 371 



Several varieties have been distinguished, but they do not 

 seem sufficiently important to deserve place in a work like the 

 present. 'X. dilatata is best distinguished from L. spinulosa by 

 the long tapering scales of the stipes ; these scales are usually, 

 but not always, dark in the centre. Some of the forms come 

 very near to L. spinvhsa, others are difficult to separate from 

 Ii. cemvla. 



Eanges from sea-level to 2000 feet on the mountains. 



6. L. SBmula (Brack.) — Bre^s Broad-Fern. 

 Lophodium Fcenisecii (Newman) Lastrea Fceniseeii (Wats), Aspi- 



dium dilatatum var. Brit, Flor., A. spinulomm var. Bentham. 

 Districts 123456789 10 11 12 

 Lat. 51°-56°- From South to North of Ireland, 

 Type in Great Britain, Atlantic, inclining to British. 



Woods, banks, and heathy places ; locally abundant. Fl. 

 July to September. 



Much more frequent in the west, being plentiful in many 

 parts of districts 1, 2, 6, 8, 9 and 11. 



Scarce and very local on the east side of Ireland. 



This is one of the plants most characteristic of the west of 

 Ireland. In some of the shady thickets around Lough Corrib 

 and about Killarney L. cemula may be seen to perfection, 

 attaining a height of nearly three feet. . 



Obs. — Lastrea cristata (Presl.) included in "Flora Hihernica" 

 at a time when the true plant was imperfectly known, was 

 probably either L. spimdosa or L. dilatata. Miss Grubb has 

 not succeeded in finding L. cristata near Clonmel. 



[Lastrea rigida (Presl.) was no doubt planted on the clay- 

 slate wall at Townley Hall, near Drogheda; where it has 

 been gathered by several collectors.] 



FOLYSTIOHUM Roth. 

 1. P. LoneMtis (Roth) — fib% Fern. 

 Aspidium Lonchitis (Sw.) Brit. Flor. and Bentham. 



Districts 1 - - (7) - 9 (10) 11 - 



Lat. 51°-55<'. West and North-west of Ireland. 

 Type in Great Brita,in, Highland. 



Rocky places on mountains ; very local. Fl. August to Oct. 



