100 ASPIDTUM OKEOrTERISj VAE. NOWELLIANUM. 



In the Section Lastkea of Authors. 



The Lastrea montana is one of the least variable of the 

 British Ferns, and this variety is by far the most extraordinary 

 hitherto discovered. It was found by Mr. J. Nowell, and Mr. 

 A. Stansiield, of Todmorden, near Lake Gyrionedd, in North 

 AValeSj September 12th., 1860, and has been tested in the 

 fernery at the Vale Nurseries, Todmorden, and proves perfectly 

 constant. 



The fronds are pinnate, the pinnEB linear, very narrow, and 

 terminating much more abruptly than in the normal species. 

 The rachis or midrib of the frond frequently terminates in a 

 horn-like projection near the apex of the frond. 



The pinnules are very short, generally only about one third 

 of the length of those in the ordinary form; they are deeply 

 cut and serrated, and in this respect the variety nowelliana 

 differs entirely from the normal type, and indeed has quite 

 as much the appearance of an Athyrium as a Lastrea. 



The sori bold and conspicuous. 



The fronds are from twelve to twenty-four inches in length. 



For a description of this Fern the reader is referred to 

 Aspidium oreopteris of Swartz, section Lastrea, page 53, vol. 

 vi, of my "Natural History of British and Exotic Ferns." 



My thanks are due to Messrs. Stansfield, of Todmorden, for 

 the frond illustrated. 



