CYSTOPTERIS. 



101 



C. f. Dickieana— Dick-ie-a'-na (Dr. Dickie's), Moore. 



This remarkably pretty, dwarf variety — undoubtedly the most distinct 

 fixed form of C. fragilis — was originally found by Dr. Dickie growing on 

 dripping rocks in a cave at Cove, near Aberdeen. Its characters are so 

 peculiar, and it possesses the property of reproducing itself so truly from 

 spores, that some authorities are inchned to give it the rank of species. It is 

 distinct fi-om the above-named species by its much denser habit and more 

 ovate (egg-shaped) fronds (Fig. 20), the height of which is seldom above 

 oin., inpluding then- short stalks ; these latter are thicker than those of any 

 other kinds belonging to the genus, and have their base densely coated with 



Fig. 20. Frond of Cystopteris fragilis Dickieana 



(nat. size). 



brown scales. The pinnas (leaflets) are sometimes deflexed (thrown back), 

 while in other cases they atFect a horizontal position ; they are somewhat egg- 

 shaped, slightly twisted, and disposed so close together as to become imbricated 

 (overlapping) ; their pinnules (leafits), also broader than usual, are oblong, 

 crowded, overlapping, and bluntly toothed. The mode of fructification is 

 equally distinct, as the sori (spore masses) never run together, but are situated 

 at the ends of the veins so as to form a marginal beading round each lobe. 

 C. f. Dickieana is altogether a distinct plant, neither monstrous nor distorted, 

 and is freely reproduced fi:-om spores, retaining all its distinctive characters. — 

 Lowe., Our Native Fer?is, ii., t. 65. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, 

 i., p. 429. 



