62 
THE BOOK OF 
L. oemula (The Hay-scented Fern). 
A small grower, with pretty crispy pinnules and a bunchy 
caudex. One of our prettiest native Ferns in its normal form 
and evergreen ; its fronds, when dying off, if gathered, have 
and retain a strong scent of Hay or rather Tonquin Bean. 
The only really good variety is L. oe. cristata, found in Noith 
Devon by W. Gill, and prettily and thoroughly crested. 
L. Montana (Oreopteris) (The Mountain Buckler Fern). 
This species is very abundant on hillsides in mountain districts, 
but is also found in the lowlands in moist, loamy situations. 
Superficially it resembles the male Fern, but differs in that 
the pinnae commence quite at the base of the frond stalk with 
simply rounded lobes ; the fronds are bipinnate, of a light 
green, and if passed through the hand give off a remarkable 
Lemon-like scent quite peculiar to itself ; its spore heap?, too, 
are extremely small, and indusia hardly t visible. For many 
years it had a reputation for peculiar constancy, but eventually 
its versatility came to light, and it far and away excelled 
the rest of the genus in the sports it yielded to persistent hunters, 
Mr. J. M. Barnes in particular. The great majority were found in 
the Lake District, but this is due, in our opinion, to the residence 
there of more persevering and experienced hunters, as one of the 
J.ASTREA CEMULA CRISTAT4. 
