228 



THE NATURALIST. 



I have observed an almost identical teratological fact on a plant of Tra- 

 gopogon pratense, gathered by M. Cogniaux at Ciply, (Hainaut). In one 

 of the heads, the pappus was reduced to five scales, elongate and glabrous ; 

 the corolla was deformed and the ovary more or less atrophied. In some 

 specimens of the same species gathered by M. Devos, in the valley of the 

 Meuse, the passage of the almost normal pappus into a more or less herba- 

 ceous and scaly pappus was observed, a transformation which he had questioned. 

 The capitula enclosed ligulate florets sensibly longer than the leaves of the 

 involucre. 



These two cases have already been described and figured by M. Mal- 

 branclie, in 1858, (loc. cit. p.p. 5--6.) But this author states that his Crepis 

 biennis was poor and of small size, which is not the case with regard to the 

 Belgian plant ; and on the other hand his Tmgopogon was infested by Uredo 

 Candida ^ which was not the case in the Ciply and Meuse valley plants. 



FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES, COLLECTED IN THE VICINITY 

 OF THE ENGLISH LAKES,— JULY— AUGUST, 1865. 



By J. C. Melvill. — (Trin. Coll. Cambridge.) 



E E R N S . 



POLYPODIUM. 



P. vulgar L. Common Polypody. Very abundant. The var. auritum, 

 with eared lobes at the base of each of the pinnse occurs at Rydal. 



The var. denticulatum, with acute pinnse occurs sparingly. 



F. hijidum, a well marked variety, with several of the pinnse two-cleft 

 is to be found on Fetter Bridge, near Rydal, on the right hand side of the 

 road from Rydal to Ambleside. Another form, more or less serrated, ap- 

 proaching to P. serratum, is found near Grasmere, on the road between that 

 place and Rydal water. 



P. Phegopteris, L. (Beech Fern). Very common. It is found in 

 extraordinary luxuriance by Colwith waterfall, some specimens as large as a 

 fine L. Filix-mas, while at high elevations, as Bowfeli, Cumberland, it may 

 be found very stunted, not more than three Indies in lieight. 



