168 Lloyd's fern. 



in the simple vernation : and from both it differs ia the more 

 equal distribution of the clusters of capsules over all parts of 

 the frond. 



The probability of its beiug a form of L. Callipteris is said 

 to be strengthened by its occurring in company with that 

 species : but this argument is not valid, for Hemestheum 

 Thelypteris is also a companion of that fern in all its stations ; 

 Phegopteris is invariably the companion of Dryopteris ; and I 

 believe that Trichomanes speciosum is constantly accompanied 

 by one or both species of Hymenophyllum. This association 

 of species proves nothing more than that a similarity of consti- 

 tution requires a parity of external conditions : and species of 

 similar constitution will seek appropriate conditions wherever 

 Nature supplies them. 



Some of the fronds are narrower and less rigid than the nor- 

 mal form. Pinnse very distant, very narrow, acuminate, with 

 a winged midrib : pmnules very small, very distant, sessile, 

 adnate, deepty notched, rather obtuse at the apex. 



Fronds of this character have a very peculiar and starved 

 appearance, but exhibit the adnate attachment of the pinnules 

 very conspicuously : they spring from a caudex bearing fronds 

 of the normal form ; and therefore, by a rule I have previously 

 imposed on myself, cannot be regarded as constituting a true 

 variety. 



This fern grows freely in cultivation, retaining all the cha- 

 racters which distinguish it as a wild plant : in the spring it is 

 twenty days later than L. multiflorum in expanding, ten days 

 later than L. spinosum, and from ten to fifteen days earlier 

 than L. Callipteris. When potted it requires nothing but peat, 

 and should be kept constantly standing in water. 



