CHRistY : Ferns of the NEiGHBotiEHooD of York. 181 



muUifidum (with many bifid pinn^), Langwith, Stockton ; incisa^ 

 Acomb Wood j elongata^ % locality. 



Nephrodium cristatum.--~Rd.vQ. Askbam bog. I, with my friend Mr. 

 J. W. West, first discovered it there on September 29th, 1875, and I 

 have seen it nearly every year since. I believe this rare fern had 

 never before been found in Yorkshire. I decline altogether to state 

 even on what part of the bog the plants grow, knowing what has been 

 the result when, on previous occasions, the precise localities of rare 

 ferns have been described. The plants are but few in number, and I 

 believe that there are less than a score on the whole bog, which covers 

 many acres. Some of these plants are very fine ones, bearing many 

 fronds which push their way up through dead grass and herbage. The 

 situation in which they all grow is an exceedingly wet one, covered 

 with high bushes. All the plants that I know of grow within haK-a^ 

 mile of one another. On discovering the first root we took about a 

 dozen fronds from it, only the largest of which, 2ft. '6in. long, bore 

 fructification. Visiting it again on the 26th of August following, 1 

 found it had increased in size, and that the longest frond was now 

 3 3 Jin. from tip to bottom. It, with two others, was slightly bifid at 

 the apex. I again saw this plant on August 11th, 1877, when it had 

 still further increased in size. On the 7th of October following, 1 

 discovered another smaller root, with one or two seedlings near it. 1 

 have been unable to discover any other plants than these, but by 

 diligent search, Mr. Backhouse succeeded in finding about a dozen 

 more roots growing in three patches all near one another. The pinnae 

 of this species are set on half across the midrib and face almost 

 upwards. 



Ntphrodiim, spinulosnm, — More abundant than I have ever seen il 

 elsewhere. Mr. Baker says " frequent in the low country woods, 

 especially in the carrs of the central vale." Among its localities arfe 

 Strensall, Stockton, Overton, Skelton, Askham, Langwith, Butter- 

 €rambe, &c. 1 have found it 35in. high in Askhani Far Wood, where 

 it grows in great abundance near this end. It varies considerably, and 

 the fronds do not seem nearly so susceptible to frost as those of some 

 other species. I believe the following varieties have been identified : — 

 the var. uliginom at Stockton Woods and Askham bogs ; the var. 

 chanteriae on Strensall Common (B.B.L.T.) ; and the var. glanduloaa 

 at Stockton. The bifid variety has occurred at Langwith (B.B.L.T.) 

 and elsewhere, 



Nepftrodium dilitatum.—Pi. large, fine, and common fern growing at 

 Acomb Wood, Clifton, Langwith, Naburn, Strensall, Dunnington, 



