104 



ASPLENIUM REFRACTUM. 



An evergreen hardy, or nearly hardy, species, found in 

 Scotland some six or seven years ago by a gardener, who 

 gathered it for A. viriclc; the discoverer died soon after, 

 and nothing appears to be known as to the particular locality 

 in Scotland. From Mr. Moore's description, in the "Nature- 

 printed Ferns," it appears to have come into the possession 

 of oNlr. Williams, gardener to C. B. Warner, Esq., of Hoddesdon. 

 Mr. Williams has given the stock of this species to Mr. Robert 

 Parker, Nurseryman, Holloway, from whom it can be now 

 procured, and, I believe, from no other Nurseryman. 



The fronds are longer and narrower in proportion than 

 A. fontanum\ the outline also differs, being equal and almost 

 linear, not broader upwards, as in A. fontmnim. In A. 

 fontamim the lower pinnae are more distant. In A. rcfractum 

 the pinnae are refracted in a remarkable degree, and are less 

 divided; tlie habit of growth is spreading, and the fronds are 

 proliferous, the small bulbils being mostly formed at the junction 

 of the pinna? with the rachis. 



Fronds linear sub-bipinnate, the pinnse being short, oblong- 

 obtuse, and refracted, at the base pinnate, above pinnatifid; 

 lovrer pinnules somewhat circular, with a few large angular 

 mucronate teeth, the upper ones two-four toothed. 



Rachis chesnut-coloured, marginate above. 



Sori short, oblong, oblique, in a line on each side near the 

 costa of the pinnse. 



Length of frond seven or eight inches; colour dark green. 



The fronds are bulb-bearing. 



My thanks are due to Mr. Parker, of Holloway, for a plant 

 and fronds of this species. 



It is in the collection of Mr. R. Parker, of Holloway, from 

 whom only it can be procured. 



The illustration is from a plant in my own collection. 



