101 
Ieeegtjlar Angulae Teens. 
88. Decurrent A. F. Decurrens, This is the least 
irregular of all the plants placed in this section. The 
fronds are lance-shaped and the pinnae are rather distant 
from each other. The leaflets are scarcely ever stalked, but 
are joined to their mid-stem by a broad attachment. They 
have generally an auricle and are sometimes toothed in 
other parts. They are also wedge-shaped at the base and 
in the upper part have often a clumsy aspect. The higher 
portion of the frond is in some measure distorted, especially 
where the clusters of fruit are placed. The plant is scarcely 
bipinnate, as hardly any leaflet is stalked. The Fern is of a 
dark colour, thick in texture, handsome, and neatly arranged, 
having but few stunted or distorted leaflets and is a foot 
long without the stalk. M. Colyton and Dalwood. 
39. Curled Decurrent A. F. Cris]pato~decurrens, This 
is not quite so thick in texture as the preceding and more 
leafy. Its chief peculiarity is its crisp or curly appearance. 
M. Lyme. 
40. Eecurved Decurrent A. F. Hecurvo^decurrens, This 
has more the aspect of the ordinary decurrent form, and is 
more lax and less leafy. The principal thing to be noticed 
is that the margin of the leaflets curve upwards, as in the 
Hay-scented Fern, and the middle part of them thus 
becomes hollow. M. 
41. Margined Decurrent A. F. Marginato-decurrens , 
Here a little ridge is formed occasionally on the surface 
of the Fern from the skin (epidermis) of the leaflets 
receding from their margin. M. 
42. Linear A. F. Lineare, By Mathematicians it is 
said that a line is length without breadth. It is difficult to 
comprehend how this can be. In our own hedge-banks 
there have been found Ferns having leaflets, which are 
certainly wider than this imaginary line, but still a mere 
line. Such is the case with this variety. Near the base 
of this line another line rises upwards at an acute angle. 
These are the little leaves — something like the upper part 
of a nut-crook that lads use for pulling down the bushes — 
turned upside down. Sometimes the leaflet is a straight 
