ASPLENIUM. 



491 



A. A.-n. Obtusatum— ob-tu-sa'-tum (blunt), Moore. 



A comparatively dwarf form, found wild in various and distant places 

 in England — in Kent, at Torquay, and near Nottingham ; also in Scotland, 

 near Stirling and Ardrishaig, Argyleshire ; in Ireland, in Antrim and at 

 Newtown Castle ; and in Guernsey. Its fronds, which in the smaller speci- 

 mens are bipinnate (twice divided to the midrib), are from 2in. to 8in. long 

 and ovate-acuminate (egg-shaped, with a tapering point) in form. Their 

 pinnae (leaflets) are somewhat short and bluntly triangular, and are furnished 

 with pinnules (leafits) not very distinctly toothed. The larger specimens 

 are tripinnate (three times divided to the midrib) ; otherwise the pinnae and 

 pinnules are the same as those of the smaller plants. — Lowe, Our Native 

 Ferns, ii., p. 175, fig. 517. 



A. A.-n. oxyphyllum — ox-yph-yF-lum (sharp-leaved), Moore. 



This very pretty little variety, originally found in Dunoon, in Argyle- 

 shire, and also near Stirling, is of medium dimensions. Its fronds, 4in. to 

 6in. long and ovate-lanceolate (egg-spear-shaped), are furnished with some- 

 what short pinnae (leaflets), which, on account of the increased size of the 

 anterior pinnule (leafit) at the base, occupy a very oblique position. The 

 ultimate segments are narrow, and, like their teeth, sharp - pointed. — 

 Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., p. 176, fig. 519. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 128. 



A. A.-n. ramosum — ra-rno'-suni (branched), Lowe. 



This very interesting form, found wild near Plymouth, differs from all 

 other known varieties through its fronds, only 6in. long, having their main 

 stalk branching about lin. below their summit, where they branch again two 

 or three times. Its pinnules (leafits) are but little divided, and they are of 

 a very bright green colour and very smooth. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., 

 p. 175, fig. 517. 



A. A.-n. Yariegatum — var-i-eg-a'-tum (variegated), Wollaston. 



In this plant we have a very rare variety, originally found growing in 

 the wall on the church of Shottisbrook, in Berkshire, in 1847, and subsequently 

 also in Guernsey. It is a very handsome form ; its fronds, normal in outline 



