334 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



being narrow at the base, gradually widening upwards, and broadest at their 

 summit, where they are rounded ; they are pinnatifid on both sides, with deep, 

 open sinuses (depressions). — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., fig. 762. 



S. Y. polymorphon — pol-ym-orph'-on (of many forms), Lowe. 



This remarkably handsome form was originally found in Devonshire. Its 

 robust fronds, 16in. to 18in. long, are lobed on one side of the base only and 

 increase in width to their centre, where they frequently measure close upon 3in. 

 About 2^in. below their summit the midrib divides and forms a compact, 

 multifid, leafy head, fully 6in. wide, and composed of leafy, angular-pointed 

 segments. It is singular that in this variety the fructification is restricted to 

 the multifid portion. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., fig. 732. 



S. Y. projectum — pro-jec'-tum (projecting), Moore. 



A distinct variety, found at Ilfracombe, Nettlecombe, Kendal, Newick, 

 Tenby, and Scarborough. It is of large dimensions, its fronds being some- 

 times nearly 2ft. long and 2|in. broad, except across the projecting lobes, 

 where they measure fully 4in. ; they are heart-shaped at the base, and 

 gradually taper to a point at the summit. Their peculiarity consists in the 

 broadish, sharp-pointed lobes, which here and there project lin. beyond the 

 general outline of the frond ; these projections are confined to the upper half 

 of the fronds. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., fig. 731. 



S. Y. proliferum— pro-lif'-er-um (proliferous), Wollaston. 



This extremely curious variety, raised from spores by Mr. Wollaston, 

 belongs to the marginatum group, the upper surface of its short, narrow fronds 

 being irregularly warty and there producing tiny bulbil -plants • their under- 

 surface has the ragged-pointed lines of S. v. marginatum, with the midrib often 

 projecting like a little horn. Occasionally the fronds are without any leafy 

 portion, being composed entirely of stalk and midrib, and these taper and 

 are pointed like an awl. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., fig. 630. 



S. Y. ramo-cHstatum— ra'-mo-cris-ta'-tum (branched, crested), Moly. 



This variety must not be confounded with S. v. ramoso-cristatum of 

 Moore, as it is thoroughly distinct. Druery describes it as a unique wild 



