NEPHRODIUM. 



499 



N. d. compactum — com-pac'-tum (compact), Sim. 



A very distinct variety, of small dimensions, raised from spores at 

 Mr. R. Sim's Nursery, at Foot's Cray, Kent. The fronds, 4in. to Sin. long 

 and borne on short stalks, are short-triangular, thick in texture, and of a very 

 leafy nature. The broad and closely-set leaflets are blunt at their extremity, 

 and their overlapping pinnules (leafits) are somewhat variable in outline. — 

 Lowe^ Our Native Ferns, i., fig. 257. 



N. d. crispum — cris'-pum (curled), Moore. 



A thick-textured variety, with fronds of normal size and shape, but 

 differing from those of the species through the conspicuously curled or 

 crisped nature of the pinnules (leafits), which are of a very dark green 

 colour. It was originally found in the neighbourhood of Nettlecombe. — 

 Lowe, Our Native Ferns, i., fig. 244. 



N. d. cristatum — cris-ta'-tum (crested), Moore. 



This pretty and distinct variety, originally found near Doncaster and 

 subsequently in Devonshire, differs from the species solely by its broader 

 and somewhat shorter fronds having their extremity, as also that of their 

 leaflets, usually twice-forked and forming blunt, flat, spreading crests. The 

 leaflets are not all regularly crested, but where not so they are enlarged, 

 showing a tendency to forking. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, i., fig. 237. 



N. d. dumetorum — du-me-to'-rum (thicket-bush-like), Moore. 



A dwarf variety, whose fronds, seldom exceeding lOin. in length, have 

 a pleasing, crisped appearance, owing to the upper surface of their leaflets 

 being of a pinched and puckered nature, quite distinct from all other known 

 varieties. The very abundant, large, and distinct sori (spore masses) are 

 covered with indusia conspicuously fringed and provided with stalked glands. 

 This form has been found in Silverthwaite, Westmoreland ; at Challacombe, 

 in Devonshire ; at Ingleborough, in Yorkshire ; in Argyleshire, Aberdeenshire, 

 and Ross-shire, in Scotland ; also in Ireland and in the Isle of Man. — Lowe, 

 Our Native Ferns, i., fig. 231. 



N. d. gracile — grac'-il-e (slender), Lowe. 



This lax, slender form, of Hemlock-like appearance when growing 

 vigorously, was originally found in the Island of Arran. Its fronds, borne 



2 K 2 



