LOPHODIXJM ULIGINOSXJM. 167 



and perhaps third pairs rather shorter and rather broader 

 at the base than the fourth, fifth and sixth pairs, and hence 

 rather more deltoid ; they are set on the rachis rather obliquely, 

 so that their upper surface approaches a horizontal position, 

 although the frond is nearly erect. The pinnules are of mode- 

 rate size, sessile, adnate, deeply notched, the divisions serrated, 

 serratures aristate : first inferior pinnule longer than the first 

 superior. Clusters of capsules on all the pinnse, but less abun- 

 dant on the lower ones, relatively small, remaining distinct and 

 separate, except at the apex of the frond ; at first green, then 

 white, subsequently black, and finally bright brown : the green 

 colour is due to the frond being seen through the young and 

 perfectly transparent involucre ; the white colour is due to the 

 involucre, which becomes opaque and white ; the black colour 

 to the ripe and full capsules ; and the brown, to the empty 

 capsules and elastic rings. The involucre is regularly reni- 

 form, its margin very entire, its disk and margin eglandulose. 



The earher fronds of the season, together with some of the 

 later ones rising from the lateral crowns, are perfectly without 

 fructification : they are shorter and broader, and the pinnse are 

 longer, broader, and more crowded than in the normal fertile 

 fronds. The marked difference and permanent distinctness 

 between the fertUe and barren fronds is a character common to 

 Hemestheum Thelypteris, Lophodium CaUipteris, and Alloso- 

 rus crispus, but does not obtaia in the generality of species, 

 all the fronds having, in a very great majority of instances, a 

 tendency to produce fructification, although adventitious cir- 

 cumstances of situation, temperature, soil, &c., may cause an 

 increase or diminution of the quantity of seed produced. 



In its vernation and adnate pinnules, this fern resembles 

 Lophodium CaUipteris; it resembles L. spinosum in the figure, 

 notching, and aristation of the pinnules ; and it also resembles 

 both those ferns in its erect rigid habit, and ovate, diaphanous, 

 concolorous scales, as well as in its entire eglandulose involu- 

 cre. On the other hand, it differs fi-om Lophodium CaUipteris 

 in the more acuminate, more divided, more serrated, more aris- 

 tate pinnules, also in the more direct course of the veins, a dif- 

 ference much more easily observed than described ; it differs 

 also from L. spinosum in the adnate, decurrent pinnules, in the 

 tufted caudex, and the consequent regular habit of growth, and 



