ASPLENIUM. 



563 



totally wanting. The pinnules (leafits) at their base are diminutive, in many 

 cases only rudimentary, widening considerably as they advance towards the 

 extremity of the frond, when they become branched. The frond itself 

 terminates in a large, compact crest, repeatedly branching in an extraordinary 

 manner, each branch or head terminating in a number of very narrow 

 segments, giving to this conspicuous vegetable tassel a very delicate 

 appearance. — Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., p. 127, fig. 465. 



A. F.-f. plumosum — plu-mo'-sum (feathery), Moore. 



This, undoubtedly the handsomest of the large-growing, non-crested forms 

 of the Lady Fern, was found wild near Skipworth, in Yorkshire. Its beautiful 

 fronds, 2jft. long and 1ft. broad, are broadly spear-shaped and distinctly tri- 

 pinnate (three times divided to the midrib) ; they are most exquisitely divided 

 and have a very feathery appearance. The leaflets in the centre of the frond 

 are 5in. to Gin. long and 2jin. broad ; they are subdivided into overlapping 

 pinnules (leafits), which are in their turn divided into distinct secondary 

 pinnules Jin. long and very narrow, having sharp teeth. It is remarkable 

 that in this variety the sori (spore masses) are destitute of the ordinary 

 covering. Several sub-varieties are known in commerce, but none are so 

 exceedingly light and elegant as the typical plumosum. — Lowe, Our Native 

 Ferns, ii., p. 135. Nicholson, Dictionary of Gardening, i., p. 130. 



A. F.-f. polyclados — pol-yc-la'-dos (many-branched), Moore. 



This most curious and handsome variety was found near Ilfracombe and 

 near Barnstaple, in Devonshire, also in Guernsey, and at Eccleston, in Lan- 

 cashire. It is distinct from all other forms, for its large, spreading fronds, 

 usually twin- or ramo-furcate (branched and then forked), have their leaflets 

 more or less triangularly forked, but without any tendency to cresting. Some 

 of the fronds are not branched, but show a peculiar warty contraction of the 

 midrib, which causes the leaflets to crowd into masses on either side. — Lowe, 

 Our Native Ferns, ii., p. 16, fig. 291. 



A. F.-f. Pritchardii— Pritch-ar'-di-i (Pritchard's),. Stansjield. 



A very elegant as well as curious form, originally found wild near 

 Ruthin, in North Wales. It somewhat resembles A. F.-f. Fieldios as regards 



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