74 ATHYRIUM FILIX FCEMINA. 
late : pinnae distant, convex : pinnules distant, linear, toothed 
or pinnatifid, convex, with deflexed margins. Son short, 
numerous, eventually confluent. A. rhaticum, Roth. Mnore, 
Hanb. 186. Aspidium irriguum ? Smith. E. B. 2199. 
This is, unquestionably, the most decided charactered of all 
the forms, and less positively associated with them by inter- 
mediates. 
" Besides the numerous slight variations in habit, and in 
the outline and division of the frond, several remarkable 
monstrosities are met with in cultivation ; of these the 
variety crispum is the most common, and its dwarf, clustered, 
and much-divided fronds resemble a tuft of curled parsley 
a figure of one of the fronds is given by Mr. Moore, Handb. 
142. It was originally found by Mr. A. Smith, on Orah 
Hill, Antrim, Ireland, and since by Sir W. C. Trevelyan, in 
Braemar, Scotland. Another Irish variety, still more pecu- 
liar, is given by Mr. Newman, Hist. Brit. Ferns, 21 8." 
It is not at all uncommon in the southern and mid- 
land counties of England, and is still more abundant 
in Ireland ; indeed, so abundant upon its bogs as to be 
used as the common Brake Fern is in England, for 
packing fruit and fish. Except in particular localities, 
it is more rare in the northern parts of Wales, England, 
and Scotland. 
Sir Walter Scott correctly described the situation it 
most delights in when he said 
Where the copse wood is the greenest, 
Where the fountain glistens sheenest, 
Where the morning dew liest longest, 
There The Lady Fern grows strongest, 
It is found in many other parts of Europe and 
North America. 
