THE BUCKLER FERNS. 
107 
THE COMMON BUCKLER OR MALE FERNS 
{Lastrea Filix-mas, L. pseudo-mas, and L. propinqua. Stn. Nephrodium). 
The common Male Fern, in one or other of its three divisions, 
is very generally distributed, and will grow in any soil. 
Special cultural remarks are therefore needless. The term 
Male Fern {L. Filix-mas) was formerly applied to the entire 
species, but Mr. G. B. Wollaston, with the general approval 
of both botanists and amateurs, has divided the species into 
three sub-species, possessing each quite distinct characters. 
We give them in the order of their merit as ornamental 
plants, as follows. The figures in parentheses refer to 
Plate lY. 
The Hard Male Fern 
(Lastrea pseudo-mas). 
Special characters: Fronds and pinnseflat; pinnules smooth- 
edged, or very slightly toothed ; colour bright yellowish-green 
when young, deep and shining green later; stalks clothed 
with golden brown scales; texture leathery. Quite evergreen 
when sheltered ; forms a trunk under favourable circumstances. 
The evergreen character of this section places it decidedly in 
the first rank, the plants retaining their ornamental appear- 
ance well through the winter, while the other sections, being 
deciduous, are conspicuous by their absence. In the spring, 
as soon as the new fronds begin to rise, the swelling of the 
crowns throws the old ones outwards, and while they are yet 
green and healthy, a weak point is developed near the base, 
and a sudden fall results, when they can be removed. This 
has afforded us, among other fine varieties, 
L. p.-m. cristata (crested) (5), a wild find, which in its bold 
and striking habit of growth, and symmetrical and constant 
cresting of fronds and pinnae, takes deservedly rank as the 
King of our British Ferns. If left untouched, buds which 
exist near the bases of the fronds are very apt to assert 
themselves and turn the plant into a bush consisting of many 
comparatively small plants. If, however, all the side shoots 
