336 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



S. Y. ramosum — ra-mo'-sum (branched), Willdenow. 



Though an old variety, having been known, according to Lowe, since 

 the time of Plukenet, this is exceedingly handsome. Its short, dense fronds, 

 of nearly erect habit, consist of a multiplication of furcations ; the stalk, which 

 starts singly from the crown, becomes branched like the limbs of a tree, the 

 midrib being often again branched below and each branch bearing a dense, 

 multifid, crisped tuft. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., fig. 686. 



S. Y. r. majUS — ma'-jus (greater), Clapham. 



Though raised from spores by Mr. Clapham, this handsome form was 

 also found in a wild state at Haburn Wike, near Scarborough. Its fronds, 

 fully l^ft. long, are provided with very thick stalks branching into several 

 broad, leafy portions, heart-shaped at their base, attenuated at their extremity, 

 and somewhat wavy along their edges. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., t. 55. 



S. Y. reniforme — re-nif-or'-me (kidney-shaped), Williams. 



This singular variety, more curious than beautiful, produces fronds which 

 sometimes are truly kidney-shaped and at other times are variously lobed. It 

 was originally found in Devonshire, then at Oldstead, and again in the 

 Channel Islands. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., t. 50 ; New and Rare 

 Ferns, t. 47. 



S. Y. sagittate)- crispum — sag-it- ta'-to-cris'-pum (arrow-head-shaped and 

 crisped), Moore. 



A very distinct variety, with much crisped or waved fronds 12in. to 14in. 

 long, 3in. broad, and elongated at their base into a pair of sharp-pointed lobes. 

 This plant, which produces spore masses in abundance, was originally found 

 at Petersfield, Hampshire, and eventually at Ottery St. Mary, and at Barnstaple, 

 Devonshire. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., p. 324. 



S. Y. sagittato-cristatum — sag-it-ta'-to-cris-ta'-tum (arrow-head-shaped 

 and crested), Clapham. 

 This handsome, strong- growing form, originally found near Scarborough 

 and later on in Devonshire and in several other localities, is somewhat variable 

 in form. Its fronds, slightly undulated or wavy, are of medium size and 

 arrow-shaped at the base ; the enlarged lobes, though generally pointing 



