DEYOPTEEIS FILIX-MAS. 187 



or other of the proposed species : in Dryopteris, I select three 

 prominent forms, which constitute links in a chain : these links 

 I shall describe ; the other links, the connecting links, remain- 

 ing undefined, and the entire chain constituting the species. 

 This chain consists of a series of plants, commencing with a 

 frail submemhranaceous texture, lax habit, large size, copi- 

 ously divided frond, and deciduous nature, and terminating 

 in a tough leathery texture, rigid habit, dwarf stature, little- 

 divided frond, and persistent nature. 



1. Fischer's Male Fern : Dbyopteris affinis : Dryopteris 

 FiLix-MAS, var. affi7iis. 



Polystichum Filix-mas, var. 1, Both, Flor. Germ. iii. 84. 

 " Frondibus tri-quadripedalibus latissimis. Filix palus- 

 tris maxima dentata. C. Bauh. Pin. p. 358, Prodr. p. 150. 

 Bergen, Flor. Francof. p. 330, n. 4. Bohmer, Lips. n. 718. 

 Var. Buxh. Halens. p. 113. Nonne Erford. p. 309, n. 3. 

 Var. Spectabilem hancce varietatem in Germania minus 

 copiosam nondum vidi, quam C. Bauhinus in Prodrome 

 1. c. descripsit." — Both, I. c. 

 " Aspidium affine, Fischer et Meyer, in Hohenack. Enum. 

 Taliisch. p. 10. Buprecht, in Beitr. z. Pflanzenk. d. Russ. 

 R. iii. p. 36." — Ledehour, I. c. 

 Polystichum afiine, Ledehour, Fl. Boss. xiv. 515. 

 Lastrea Filix-mas, fig. b., Neivm. F. 197. 

 Lastrea Filix-mas, (3. incisa, Moore, Phytol. iii. 137, TIandb. 



103 ; Bab. 410. 

 Aspidium FUix-mas, var., Francis, 39. 

 Aspidium Filix-mas, /3. erosum. Hook, and Am. 569. 

 Passing over the earlier notices, those of Eoth, and the 

 authors whom he cites, because unaccompanied by a name, we 

 come to those of Fischer and Meyer, Ruprecht, and Ledehour, 

 all of whom give the plant the name of " affine." Ledebour's 

 character is very clear and veiy distinctive, and no one, so far 

 as I can ascertain, doubts the identity of the plant now under 



