of Guernsey. 



53 



elegant fronds attaining a height of four or five feet spreading 

 round the central crown are most beautifully divided. I con- 

 sider it the most elegant of all our native species. It varies 

 greatly in form, yet not sufficiently for us to have constant 

 varieties. Those which grow to the largest size often have 

 their pinules turned back making them appear narrow, and. 

 giving a shrivelled appearance to the fronds ; others have 

 flat pinules which are excessively developed both in length and 

 in breadth. 



5. Athyrium Fiiix fcemina or Lady Fern is the most abun- 

 dant of our large ferns, being much more frequent than in 

 England. The elegance of the form, the delicacy of the fronds, 

 and the exquisite grace of its habit of growth make it a univer- 

 sal favourite, yet I think it must yield the palm to the lax form 

 of Dilatata. Compared with Dilatata there is a stiffness about 

 the shape of its pinules, and a sameness in the divisions of the 

 pinnae, which prevent it taking the first place in my estimation. 

 I think the greater rarity of the Dilatata prevents its beauty 

 being so universally recognised as it would be, were it as com- 

 mon as the Lady fern. Both of this and the Male fern we 

 have many varieties, but not named ones, I show a tasselled 

 variety called " Multifidum," which I picked years ago from a 

 plant in Grande Mare. 



6. Asplenium Rutumuraria or Wall Rue, one of the small 

 wall ferns, is rather rare in Guernsey, indeed some books have 

 stated that it is only to be found in the walls of our churches ; 

 if that were the case formerly, I am afraid this fern has became 

 less strict in its principles, or perhaps it has changed its pro- 

 fession, for it is very abundant on a certain martello tower, 

 where ammunition is stored ; and is a'so found on walls in 

 various parts of the island. 



7. Asplenium-trichomanes or Common Maiden-hair spleen- 

 wort is an elegant little fern, growing mostly in walls, rather 

 rare in Guernsey, and nowhere attaining the luxuriance it has 



