LASTKJ3A DILATATA. 
LASTED 'A MLATA'TA. J4/ 
THERE has been much "learned dust" raised relative 
to this Fern, its alleged varieties, and its want of dis- 
tinct specific characters when compared with Lastrtea 
spinulosa. The doubts and " dust" are occasioned, we 
think, by the admitted fact that L. dilatata varies very 
much in form and stature in accordance with the situa 
tion where it grows. It has been called by botanists 
Aspidium dilatatum and A. spinulosum ; Lastrcea multi- 
flora; Lophodium multiflorum ; P oly podium aristatum. 
P. cristatum, and P. dilatatum ; and Polystiehum multi- 
florum. In English it is known as Broad Sharp-too Hied 
Shield Fern; Broad Prickly-toothed Buckler Fern, 
Broad Prickly Fern; Great Shield Fern; and Dilated 
Shield Fern. 
Root black, tufted, not at all creeping, but large, erect, 
and almost entitled to be described as tuberous. Fronds 
varying in size fro n a few inches to two feet, an^in 
very favourable situations twice that heighth ; they 
rise from the root-stock in a circular cluster, and beai 
some resemblance to the capital of a Corinthian column 
They are erect, broad, spreading, light green, and spear- 
head shaped in their general outline ; their leaflets have 
a similar form, and are so deep cut, or pinnatifid, into 
long, olunt, parallel, deeply-toothed, sharp-pointed 
segments, that they seem doubly leafited ; indeed, the 
lower pair are so. The stem is slender, slightly scaly 
throughout its length, but mostly so where there are no 
