bree’s fern. 
233 
to the date of Mr. Moore’s letter on the subject: but I think 
there is some little error in supposing that the identical plant 
described by Smith is still in existence. Sir J. E. Smith ex- 
pressly describes the Liverpool plants as raised from the seed of 
a Derbyshire specimen of Asp. dumetorum ; and I think all 
those who have raised ferns from seedj and observed the strange 
and unexpected results which occasionally take place, will ad- 
mit that seedlings under any circumstances are far from satis- 
factory, and in the present instance I find no points of corre- 
spondence between the authentic specimens of dumetorum^ and 
their supposed descendants. I quote Sir James’ observation on 
the subject. “ Mr. Henry Shepherd, of the Botanic Garden, 
Liverpool, raised the A. dumetorum in plenty from seed brushed 
from a Derbyshire specimen. The individuals, whether culti- 
vated in pots or on rock-work, retain their original habit and 
characters, the largest not exceeding a foot in height.” ^ 
It fortunately happens that the very specimens here mentioned 
are also preserved in the Smithian herbarium, and the following 
note is gummed on the folio immediately below them. 
“ 1. Aspidium. — This I raised from seed brushed from the 
small frond which you sent me from Derbyshire, on your return 
home from Liverpool. You thought it might be a new one. It 
certainly differs from any British one that I am acquainted with, 
and appears to keep to the original, as we have it both in pots 
and on the rock, and there is no difference in either of the plants, 
these two fronds are as large as any the plant has produced, and 
it does not appear as it would grow much larger. H. Shepherd,” 
The specimens in question are not referrible to Lastrcea re- 
curva in any of its states, neither do they correspond with the 
plant which was subsequently recognized by Mr. Moore and 
myself at Liverpool as identical with that I am now describing ; 
but I may add that they a good deal resemble some seedlings I 
possess of L. ( multiflora J collina. 
When I first saw this beautiful fern in the North of Ireland, I 
was in company with Mr. William Bennett, and I instantly pro- 
nounced it a species new to Britain. I traced it in many of the 
* Eng. Flor. iv. 282 . 
