260 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



P. a, caudata — cau-da'-ta (tailed), Linnaeus. 



This West Indian variety, readily distinguished by the narrow form of its 

 elongated leafits, or rather of their terminal lobe, is also a native of some 

 parts of North America, as Eaton states that "it is not rare in Florida, and 

 has been collected in Southern Alabama, and perhaps also in other parts 

 of the Gulf States." — Eaton, Ferns of North America, i., t. 35. Hooker, 

 Synopsis Filicum, p. 163. 



P. a. cristata— cris-ta'-ta (crested), Moore. 



A very distinct form, which appears to have been gathered in several 

 parts of the United Kingdom at the same time, and which is to this day 

 frequently met with in .the neighbourhood of Tunbridge Wells. Its fronds 

 are normal in size, but the summit of each leaflet shows various forms of 

 cristation. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., fig. 828. 



P. a. crispa — cris'-pa (crisped), Wollaston. 



This pretty form, originally found on Hainpstead Heath, is of a somewhat 

 variable nature, sometimes having the margins of its leafits entire, waved, 

 and thrown back, while in other cases they are more or less deeply notched 

 and smooth. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., p. 413. 



P. a. esculenta — es-cul-en'-ta (edible), Forster. 



In this variety, which is commonly called the " Edible Fern of Tasmania," 

 but which is also found in New Zealand and Australia, and occurs abundantly 

 in South America, the ultimate divisions are narrower than in the typical 

 plant ; they are suddenly decurrent at the base, where they are connected 

 by a narrow lobe. — Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 163. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, hi., p. 241. Eaton, Ferns of North America, i., t. 35. Lowe, 

 New and Rare Ferns, t. 49. 



P. a. furcans — fur'-cans (forked), Lowe. 



The fronds of this variety, which was originally found near Birmingham, 

 are provided with broad leafits, the leaflets being irregular and, like the 

 summit of the fronds, multifid (variously branched). — Lowe, Our Native 

 Ferns, ii., figs. 829 and 830. 



