Perhaps no species of Fern has given rise to more difference 
of opinion, as to specific limits, than the present one. Like all 
Ferns of extended geographical distribution, it is liable to con¬ 
siderable variation, and no two botanists can agree as to the 
amount of importance which should be given to these variations: 
the consequence is that we find given by the careful Mr. Moore, 
such an amount of synonyms as happily falls to the lot of few 
Ferns. Eighteen different specific names are noticed in Mr. 
Moore’s ‘British Ferns, Nature-Printed,’ and thirty-one varieties 
are recorded. In his £ Index Filicum,’ where the synonyms are 
worked out with greater care, the number is ££ legion,”—these, 
however, include the freaks of Nature. We are content here to 
introduce one variety, namely the latifolium , and even that passes 
by insensible degrees into the more common form. The involucre 
is singularly variable, from a straight line, and closely resembling 
that of true Asplenium , to hippocrepiform or horseshoe-shaped, 
which again comes so near the reniform, that not a few botanists 
have referred the species to Aspidium and Nep hr odium. 
Asplenium Filicc-foeminci is widely distributed throughout the 
Continent of Europe and Northern Asia. Himalaya, from the 
extreme north-west to Bhotan, Wallich, Fdgworth, Hook. Jil. and 
Thomson , elev. 10-12,000 feet, according to Strachey and Win- 
terbottom; Kamtschatka, Beechey; Japan and Manchuria and 
Amur, C. Wright, Wilford. Crete, small specimens almost pass¬ 
ing into Asplenium Hohenackerianum ; and the same form is sent 
by Schimper , n. 1270 and 740, from Abyssinia. Madeira, Lowe 
and others (a deeply incised form); Canaries, Webb; Algeria, 
Boue; North America, quite identical with the European plant; 
Canada ( Goldie ) to New Orleans, and westward to the Rocky 
Mountains, and to Oregon and British Columbia (where it is 
often tripinnate). South America; Venezuela, Fendler, n. 405; 
Caracas, Linden, n . 518; Cuba, Pceppig; Mexico, Galeotti, n. 
6425? 
Plate 35. Pig. 1 and 2. Fertile plant of Asplenium Mlix-foemina, Bernh.,— 
natural size. 3. Fertile pinna of var. latifolium,—natural size. 4. Fertile 
pinna. 5. Sorus :— magnified. 
