l62 



BRITISH KERNS 



divisions are prematurely and abruptly terminated squarely, the 

 midrib projecting from the centre as a thorn or bristle ; this form 

 occurs so frequently that in the Lake District a Fern so characterized 



L. m. Irimcata (pinna;). 



is termed the " beginner's Fern,' - since it is nearly always the first 

 thing which the young Fern-hunter comes across in the varietal line. 

 We have found it repeatedly. Sometimes plants are found partly 

 truncate and partly normal, but constant ones are not rare. 



Lastrea Remota 



(Plate XXI) 



This Fern (Fig. 180) was first found in Westmoreland by Mr. 

 F. Clowes, of Windermere, who regarded it as a form of L. spinulosa, 

 but a frond being submitted to Mr. Moore, of the Chelsea Botanic 



Fig. 180. L. remota (part of pinna). 



Gardens, he pronounced it to be identical with a species native to 

 southern Germany, and*Jnamed ; ;^4s^idnjw rcmotum (Braun), thus 

 adding a new species to the British list. In view, however, of the 

 variability of L. dilatata, and Mr. Clowes' own opinion at the time 

 of the find, that it was a form of L. spinulosa, which we regard as one 

 of its variants, we are hardly inclined to accept L. remota as a dis- 

 tinct species, but rank it rather with the other indefinite ones of 

 the same section of L. dilatata forms. It is quite hardy, but de- 

 ciduous, and grows to a considerable size. 



