263 



Athyriums are plentiful on the same hill, and generally 



in suitable locations. 



Of Asplenia. A diantiim-nigrumw as found most abundantly 

 near a base hospital on the Channel coast and the plants 

 were of a character distinctly more acute than the British 

 average. Aspleniumtrichomanes is not generally distributed 

 but was found in profusion in one village occupied daring a 

 period of training, decorating every suitable wall with its 

 delicate tracery, in company with Asphnium ruta-muraria, 

 which is much more generally abundant. An attempt at 

 cresting was the only variety noticed. 



Near this same village were chalky hills which made a 

 famous hunting ground for Orchids, of which, the season 

 being June, many interesting species were found. 



It seems a pity that no fern variety could be found, to 

 serve as a War souvenir, more attractive than the stereo- 

 typed shell-case, Hun weapon, etc., but possibly the luck 

 may yet turn. 



T. Stansfield. 

 Empire Hospital, 



London, W., December, 1917. 



A TRIPENNATE FERN. 



Blechnum sp. paradoxum (Jones) was found by Mr. G. 

 Whitwell in Bannisdale, Westmorland, in 1877. It was an 

 absolutely unique plant, no fern with this three-winged 

 character having been recorded in any species so far as the 

 writer knows. The frond was, at first sight, somewhat of 

 the striatum character with toothed and abbreviated pinna 4 . 

 but along the middle of its upper surface was an upright 

 ridge like the crest on the back of the male newt. The 

 ridge was, however, divided into lobes, corresponding to 



