58 
THE BOOK OF 
soil, with a dash of leaf-mou’d, needs plenty of moisture. L. rigida 
is a limestone species, and is only found on that formation. 
L. thelypteris is a true bog plant, growing in mud and b< ggy ooze. 
The last-named species ha^ yielded no varieties, L. rigida none 
worth having save a pretty cristate form only found to die under 
cultivation. L. cristata, besides belying its specific name, has 
refra ned from any attempt at a justificatory sport ; the remainder 
of the tiibe, however, have done good service, and we will now 
deal with them seiiatim. 
L. Filix-mas (The Male Fern). 
This species is so distinctly sub-divided that we must treat 
it as three, adopting Mr. G. B. Wollaston’s classification: 
“ L. f.-mas with convex fronds and pinnae, pale green thin 
textured fronds with serrate pinnules, small indusia and deciduous 
habit, L. pstudo-mas with thick leathery Hat golden green 
fronds, almost smooth edged pinnules and large lead-coloured 
indusia ; evergreen habit. L. propinqua, concave fronds and 
pinnae, du 1 green soft textured fronds, serrate pinnules, large 
indusia, and deciduous habit.” L. pseudo-mas is also distin- 
guished by its profusion of light brown scales. L. prop. -mas 
is only locally plentiful mainly in mountain districts, the other 
two are generally distributed and are often associated together, 
L. f.-mas being in the majority. In cultivation the tough 
evergreen nature of L. p.-mas entitles it to the preference 
where space is restricted. Under glass it retains its beauty 
well into the second season and until the fresh fronds are 
fairly developed. 1 he fronds of all are normally twice 
divided (bipinnate), the pinnae commencing some distance up 
the stalk and forming broadish lanceolate fronds 2 feet to 
3 feet in height, ranged shuttlecock fashion round the caudex. 
L. Filix-mas. 
A 'amt. 
Where Found 
or Rai ed. 
Finder or Raiser and 
D le. 
Description. 
Acrocladon 
— 
Clapliam (r.) .. 
Prettily crested, but not 
branched like A. f. f. 
acrocladon. 
Rarnesii . . 
Heversham 
J. M. Rimes .. 
Narrow form ; pinnae ovate. 
Bollanda; 
Keut 
Mrs. B Aland 
The only plumose foim, 
0357) 
somewhat depauperate. 
confluens 
— 
AV. IT. Phillips 
A fine confluent form. 
crispata . . 
Coniston and 
J. K . nudsson 
A compact, crispy form. 
elsewhere 
and others (1SC4) 
crispatissima 
— 
— 
Similar form. 
(fluetuosa) 
cristata 
Rvdal .. 
Crouch (1864) 
Well crested 
c. Ellacombi 
Pem broke 
Ellacombe (1856) 
Very fine cristate form. 
c. Martindale 

W. Martindale 
„ „ 
(1872) 
c. Routiedge 
Old Hutton 
Routiedge (1872) 
A r ery foliose. 
decompositum 
South Devon .. 
Allchin (1871 .. 
depauperata 
Exmoor.. 
C. Pad ley (1S68) 
Too curious to omit. 
