122 
European Ferns. 
are remarkable for the absence of indusia : this, of course, technically removes the plant from 
the genus A thyrium, and Mr. John Smith places it in Phegopieris on this account. He says: 
“ Upon what grounds it was referred to Asplenia I cannot explain, as all the specimens I 
have examined of it have small punctiform naked sori, perfectly characteristic of the genus 
Phegopteris, with which it also agrees in habit. This leaves me no other alternative than to 
consider it a species of that genus, and consequently a new British species. In doing so, the 
question arises as to whether it represents an ancient species not before noticed, or the modern 
result arising from the power of nature to generate new forms, in accordance with the Darwinian 
theory of creation of species. It is, however, to be observed that in abnormal or difformed 
states of Asplenium and Scolopendrium, the sori are depauperated, in some instances having 
no vestige of an indusium ; but such is not the case with this plant. The fronds are perfect 
in every respect, and if herbarium specimens had been received from some foreign country, 
no pteridologist, on seeing the naked sori, would refer it to Asplenia It is probable that 
the luxuriant development of the leafy portion of the frond accounts for the infrequency 
with which the sori are produced ; when they do occur, however, they are fertile, and 
young plants have been raised from them, showing all the characteristics of the parent. 
This is one of the most beautiful hardy ferns in cultivation, and should find a place in every 
fernery. 
Coming now to the “monstrous” forms of the Lady Fern, we shall find they present 
great variation in appearance, although it is difficult to systematise them, as there seems 
scarcely any limit to the number of odd and eccentric forms which they assume. We may, 
however, separate those which have simple fronds — branched, that is, only at the apex and 
at the end of the pinnae — from those in which the fronds are distinctly branched. Whether 
science is in any way a gainer by the bestowal of names upon these almost countless 
forms is a matter open, we think, to question ; Mr. Moore has so treated them, however, 
and his practical knowledge of the subject entitles his opinion to considerable weight. 
Among the unbranchcd forms we may notice the variety multifidnm, the fronds of which 
* “ Ferns, British and Foreign,” p. 289. 
