BOTEYCHIUM LTflfAEIA. 317 



I must not conclude these observations without acknowledg- 

 ing the obligation I am under to Miss Beever, who, two years 

 subsequently to my receiving Mr. Wilson's letter on the 

 subject, sent me specimens exhibiting the structure here de- 

 scribed, and called my attention to many of the particulars I 

 have noticed. 



The stipes is very succulent, and rises in an erect position 

 from the sheath-like scales already spoken of, thus totally dif- 

 fering from that of the true ferns : it is divided at about half 

 its length into two branches, one branch bearing the leafy por- 

 tion of the frond, the other the fructification ; the leafy portion 

 is pinnate : the pinnse vary in number from three to seven 

 pairs, they are somewhat fan-shaped, with their exterior mar- 

 gin slightly crenate ; the veins in these pinn£e radiate from the 

 sessile base, and are branched irregularly ; they extend almost 

 to the margin, but are never united at their extremities : the 

 fruitful branch of the stipes is pinnate, the pinnse generally 

 corresponding in number with those of the leafy branch : these 

 lateral branches, or pinnse, are frequently again divided, and 

 bear a number of nearly globular capsules, which, having at- 

 tained maturity, open transversely, and, gaping widely, allow 

 the seeds to fall out. 



A great number of varieties of this fern have been found, 

 consisting in the gi-eater or less amount of division of the fla- 

 bellate pinnee : other aberrations, which may properly be called 

 monstrosities, are also of frequent occurrence, such as having 

 two leafy branches to the frond ; two, three, and even four 

 panicles of seeds ; and, in some instances, the margins of the 

 pinnae are changed into seed-vessels. " Many Authours," says 

 Parkinson, " have set forth varieties of the small Moonewort, 

 which because they are but from the Luxuriousnesse of the 

 Plant, in a fertile soyle and accidentall also, not to be found 

 constant, which should make a particular species. I have 

 wholly refused to set downe many descriptions of one herbe, 

 but sometime degenerating ; let one description therefore serve 

 instead of many." — Park. The. 507. 



