THE LASTREAS 143 



especially when fading, and even when dead, have a strong scent 

 of new-mown hay or Tonquin bean. Culture requires moist, peaty 

 soil and a damp atmosphere. It is not nearly so plentiful as 

 L. dilatata, only appearing in very congenial Fern districts, and 

 then rarely in abundance. One pretty variety was found in 

 Devonshire. 



Cristatum. — Very neatly and thoroughly crested. The original 

 find was lost, but a seedling came up, a fertile frond of which was 

 secured by Col. Jones and given to the writer, who, after eradicating 

 two monopolizing batches of stray Ferns from the pan, secured as a 

 third batch several hundreds of the L. amula cristata, all true, 

 many of which Col. Jones distributed. The Colonel's own sowing 

 was placed in a greenhouse, and was frustrated by an invasion of 

 exotic Pteris, etc., spores in similar fashion, which, not being 

 eradicated as they appeared, gave the L. amula no chance. 



Lastrea Cristata (The Crested Buckler Fern) 



(Plate XIV) 



This Fern (Fig. 147) , as already stated in our introductory remarks 

 concerning the Lastrea family, is considered by good authorities 

 not to be a species proper, but one of the sub-species of the L. 



dilatata section. In our plate it differs materially and is in any case 

 an extreme form. Why it should have been named " cristata " we 

 have never been able to discover ; there is certainly no trace of a 

 " crest " as the word is understood in Fern circles nowadays. Our 

 illustration obviates description. As a bog Fern moist conditions 

 must be afforded, and a peaty compost provided. 



Lastrea Dilatata (The Broad Buckler Fern) 



(Plate XV) 



This is a robust-growing species which is very widely distributed, 

 and affects moist woods, glens, ditches, and similar habitats where 

 some shade is afforded, and an open leafy or peaty soil is found, 

 though it is by no means dainty in this respect. It is made on 

 very different lines to most of the other Lastreas, having dark green 



