io6 



agrees with Newman's somewhat unsatisfactory description 

 and which I take to be his collina. The peculiarity which' 

 arrests the eye, but which he finds it impossible to describe 

 I should put down as a less leathery texture and a some- 

 what finer subdivision of the ultimate parts, i.e. a slight 

 approach to the plumose character. The form is, however,, 

 not sharply marked off from dilatata by any of these rather 

 indefinite characters, but merges into it by imperceptible 

 gradations. I do not regard it therefore as a species, nor 

 even as a good variety, although no doubt plants can be 

 picked out which are distinct enough to the eye. 



L. alpina (Wollaston) is a much more distinct variety of 

 dilatata, of which it is a mountain form, but is separatedi 

 only by its smaller stature, thinner texture, and most of all 

 by its perfectly deciduous character, all of which differences 

 are maintained when it is removed to the lowlands and even, 

 when it is cultivated under glass in the South. I am not 

 sure whether there are intermediate gradations between 

 alpina and dilatata, as the former does not grow in my 

 neighbourhood. The testimony of our Scotch members 

 would be valuable on this point. 



L. spinulosa may be distinguished from dilatata by the 

 more lanceolate outline of the fronds, the creeping 

 rhizome, and the whole-coloured scales. The species can 

 be distinguished by the decumbent (instead of erect) 

 caudex in a very early stage ; as soon as a distinct crown 

 is formed it assumes the horizontal position — often before 

 the fronds are an inch in length. Dilatata, on the other 

 hand, when growing naturally, has the caudex erect and 

 forms a perfect shuttlecock. Of course, the crown may be 

 tumbled over by stress of circumstances and may thus be 

 found temporarily prostrate, but even then, as soon as it 

 has taken root in the new position, the point turns upwards 

 and it begins to reassume the erect attitude. The scales 

 of the stipes (footstalk) form another distinguishing. 



