LOPHODIUM MULTIFLOEUM. 151 



In favourable situations, the fronds of mature plants, includ- 

 ing the stipes, measure five feet in length : this magnitude is, 

 I believe, unequalled by any of our British ferns, except the 

 common brakes and Osmunda regalis. I select for description 

 a specimen, for which I am indebted to Mr. John Eay, of 

 Epping ; and first give its dimensions. Total length from the 

 caudex to the apex of frond, 60 inches : from the caudex to the 

 insertion of the first pair of pinnse, 24 inches : from the inser- 

 tion of the first pair of pinnae to the apex of frond, 36 inches. 

 It must, however, be borne in mind, that the relative length of 

 the stipes and frond is subject to great variation, being influ- 

 enced by situation, degree of moisture, nature of soil, quantity 

 of shade, and a number of other casualties. The length of the 

 first pair of pinnae is 7f inches ; second pair, 8|- inches ; third, 

 8f ; fourth, 9 inches ; sixth, 8f ; seventh, 8 ; eighth, 7 ; ninth, 

 6 ; tenth, 4| ; eleventh, 4 ; twelfth, 3 ; thirteenth, 2^ ; four- 

 teenth, 2 : the remainder rapidly decrease in length, until the 

 frond terminates in an acute point. The lengths of the rachis 

 between the pairs of pinnse are these : — in the first instance, 

 4j inches ; in the second, Sj ; in the third, 3j ; in the fourth, 

 3 ; in the fifth, 2j ; in the sixth, 2y ; in the seventh, 2 ; in the 

 eighth, If ; in the ninth, Ij ; in the tenth, IJ ; in the eleventh, 

 1 ; in the twelfth, f ; in the thirteenth, ^ an inch. From these 

 admeasurements it will appear that the form of the frond may 

 be described as oblong-lanceolate, and cannot, in any accepta- 

 tion of the term, be characterized as deltoid or triangular, 

 words which are almost invariably employed in the description 

 of what is named " Aspidium dHatatum." And I may remaik, 

 that although I have examined some hundreds of mature 

 fronds, I have never seen one more nearly triangular than that 

 of which I have given the admeasurements. That triangular 

 fronds do frequently occur, I will not dispute ; but these are 

 from seedUng or starved plants, or are often without fruit, 

 always of less size, or, from some cause or other, have not at- 

 tained their normal form. The stipes is very stout at the base, 

 and thickly clothed with long, pointed scales, which are of a 

 very dark brown colour along the middle, pale brown and nearly 

 transparent at the sides : this character is amply sufficient to 

 distinguish this species from those which are generally con- 

 founded with it. One of these scales is represented by the 



