NEPHRODIUM. 
137 
sori on the margin. If any doubt occurs when trying 
to identify this fern, you have only to pass your hand 
quickly over the back of the frond, and the fragrance 
which the glands give out will set every doubt at rest. 
Its bright yellowish-green hue is extremely refreshing 
to the eye. 
There is a variety called crist a turn, divided several 
times at the point. 
Var. crispum has the leaflets waved and crisped. 
Yar. truncatum is less elegant than the normal form, 
the points of the fronds and of the pinnae ending ab- 
ruptly. 
The most extraordinary variety is Mr. Lowe’s Lastrea 
montana Nowelliana. Here the pinnae are very narrow, 
and do not taper to the point at all ; from their appear- 
ance they might have been broken off in the centre ; 
they are sometimes forked. The rachis is carried beyond 
the end of the frond, so as to form a kind of horn, as is 
seen in many foreign ferns ; the leaflets are very short, 
and the sori fully developed. 
Var . fur c alum has the pinnae doubly forked. 
Yar. abruptum is a starved form ; the pinnae are irre- 
gular in size, and are either merely waved at the margin 
or slightly dentate. 
Mr. Lowe also describes two varieties, interruptum 
and caudatum ; but their differences are very slight. 
The Mountain Buckler-fern frequents hilly districts, 
raising its crown of delicate green fronds among the 
grey rocks and purple ling, and hiding the reindeer moss 
and cup lichens under its shade. It is often called 
Heath-fern, from its presence on heaths and moors. It 
is abundant in England and Scotland, and in the moun- 
tain regions of Ireland. 
