41 
THE BOOK OF 
shape, with broad, blunt pinnae, sometimes crenate, and thickly 
clothed on the back with dense, brown scales (page 43). It with- 
stands drought to almost any extent, surviving actual shrivelling 
for months, and yet reviving, when subsequently soaked, like 
a true tropical species. A number of forms have been found, 
mainly in Ireland. The best are : 
Name. ' 
criatatum 
sirandiceps 
multilldo - crista- 
tuni 
ramoso-cris'atum 
Where Found 
or Raised. 
County Clare . . 
Finder or RaFer and 
Date. 
O'Kelly .. 
A. Wise 
Descr ption. 
Neatly fan-tasselled. 
More heavily tasselled. 
M ultifidly crested. 
Branched and tasselled. 
ATHYRIUM F 1 L 1 X-FOEMINA (THE LADY FERN). 
THIS Fern, classed by botanists as 
affinity with that family either in 
an Asplenium, has no 
appearance, habitats, or 
relative stability of 
form, being one of 
the most variable 
Ferns in the world, 
while the Asplenia 
generally are 
peculiarly constant. 
In its varietal 
forms it varies in 
size from 4 feet in 
height to 2 inches 
or 3 inches, and 
in its wild state 
varies so much in 
detail that it is 
often difficult to 
find two plants 
exactly alike in 
cutting and general 
make. It affects 
moist habitats and 
even boggy ones, 
but, generally 
speaking, is one of 
the least dainty in 
its requirements, so 
long as it is not 
subjected to actual 
A. F. F. PLUMOSCM DRUERY (YOUNG FROND). 
