BRITISH FERNS 



consider justifiably, been split up into three sub-species, viz. 

 L. filix-mas, L. pseudo-mas, and L. propinqna. Mr. G. B. Wollaston's 

 definition of the differences we may render into popular language 

 thus. 



Fig. 158. L. filix-mas (pinna). 



Lastrea filix-mas. — Partially deciduous, the fronds lying prostrate 

 in winter (i.e. not dying absolutely in the autumn as with deciduous 

 Ferns proper). Fronds lance-shaped, reaching five feet in length, 

 pinna? long and broad at base, once divided, pinnules oval, saw- 

 toothed, lowest part the longest ; spore cover, when young, does 

 not cover the spore capsules, and later often drops off. 



Lastrea pseudo-mas. — Sub- evergreen, fronds hard and leathery and 

 do not drop in winter (and under glass are quite evergreen) ; fronds 

 lance-shaped, twice divided, reaching five feet in length ; pinnae 

 long and widest at base, once divided ; pinnules with almost 

 parallel sides, slightly saw-toothed, scarcely any difference in the 

 length of the lowest pair ; spore cover, when young, covers the 

 spore capsules and does not fall off. (The colour is also a yellowish 

 green.) 



Lastrea propinqua. — Quite deciduous ; not found at so great an 

 elevation as the others reach ; fronds ovally lance-shaped, twice 

 divided, reaching rarely four feet in length ; pinna? once divided, 

 pyramidal, i.e. of a long triangular form ; pinnules doubly saw- 

 toothed, crispy, and with a projecting ear-like one at the base, 

 basal pair distinctly stalked and much longer than the rest ; spore 

 cover quite covers the capsules. 



A little study will show that these are definite differences, and 

 as all three types occur in many places, and retain these peculiarities, 

 it is obvious that Mr. Wollaston, one of our oldest and most reliable 

 authorities on British Ferns, was not a mere hair-splitter in making 

 the division. In the varieties, however, these differences are, 

 naturally, sometimes masked by other characters, and hence, 

 although we class the varieties under separate heads, we do so under 

 some reserve in several cases. All three have been fairly liberal 

 in "sports," the best of which we will now indicate, ignoring, as 

 usual, such as have been recorded but owing to defects, irregularities, 

 or indeterminate character have probably fallen out of cultivation, 

 and in any case deserve to do so. We may, perhaps appropriately, 



