550 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



closely set, usually forked and crested at their extremity. The corymbose 

 (clustered) termination of the frond consists of dilated, spreading ramifications 

 bearing pinnules (leafits) throughout and forming a crest, or rather a corymb, 

 nearly or quite as wide as the broadest portion of the frond. This variety 

 differs from all other crested forms of the Lady Fern in the great breadth 

 of its pinnules as also in the larger size of its tasselled extremities and the 

 red colour of its stalks. From home-raised seedlings several striking sub- 

 varieties have been produced, the principal ones being corymbifero-depauperatum 

 of Wollaston and Lowei and striatum of Lowe. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., 

 p. 37, t. 37. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 130. 



A. F.-f. Craigii— Craig'-i-i (Craig's), Moore. 



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

 Levens Hall, Milnthorpe. Its fronds, seldom more than Sin. long and about 

 lin. broad, are borne on red stalks ; their pinnae (leaflets), variable in shape 

 and very leafy, are crested throughout, except the two at the base of the 

 frond, which are smaller, descending, and not crested. The extremity of 

 the fronds is branched and forms a crest fully 2in. across. This variety 

 reproduces itself very freely from spores. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., 

 p. 112, fig. 445. 



A. F.-f. crispum — cris'-pum (crispy or curled), Moore. 



This slender variety, of comparatively dwarf habit, originally found on 

 Orah, a hill in County Antrim, Ireland, and subsequently at Todmorden, 

 Lancashire, and in Corymulzie Lynn, Braemar, Scotland, more closely 

 resembles a tuft of fine curled parsley than a Fern. Its fronds, which 

 branch in every possible manner, each ramification terminating in close, 

 obtuse tassels, are seldom more than Sin. high, densely set with very finely- 

 divided pinna3 (leaflets), and present a peculiar, crispy appearance. — Lowe, 

 Our Native Ferns, ii., p. 34, figs. 317 and 318. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 130. 



A. F.-f. cristatum — cris-ta'-tmn (crested), Monkman. 



Many are the forms of the Lady Fern which can only be described as 

 "crested," bearing more or less dense tassels at the extremity of their fronds 

 and pinnae. Among the most striking are those which in commerce are 



