VIII. ATHYRIUM. 
145 
" - - 
the midrib that they soon coalesce so as to cover it. This 
variety is frequent in shady places. 
The variety marinum pos- 
sesses many of the characteristics 
of molle, but it differs in its 
spreading sub- decumbent habit of 
growth, its very much narrowed 
base, and its crowded scarcely 
lobed pinnules. The fronds are 
from twelve to fifteen inches long, 
exactly oval-lance-shaped, the 
base being narrowed equally with 
the apex, hardly bipinnate. The 
pinnae in the widest part measure 
an inch and a half, or two inches, 
and are linear-oblong, narrowing 
into a short scarcely acuminate 
point. The pinnules are largest 
next the rachis, oblong, very 
obtuse, and very closely placed, 
or slightly over-lapping; the 
margin is rather toothed than 
lobed, the lobes being seldom 
more than blunt simple or some- 
what retuse notches. The son 
are very short lunate, or arcuate, 
two to four pairs on a pinnule, 
scarcely becoming confluent. 
This variety has a distinct aspect, 
which it retains under cultiva- 
tion. It was found in 1846 by 
Dr. Dickie in a sea-cave near 
Aberdeen, in company with Cys- 
topteris Dichieana, and I am 
indebted for specimens and 
plants obtained from this source, 
[A. F.-f marinum.1 to Mr. J. B. Mackay. 
