106 
leaflets have much more bristly teeth or serratures. This 
plant varies much in its aspect, leaflets, and pinnae. The 
frond terminates abruptly and if it has any definable form, 
it is lance-shaped. The regular or full-sized leaflets are 
oblong or egg-shaped and sometimes have an auricle. The 
stunted ones are either linear, wedge-shaped, lance-shaped, 
or egg-shaped. Their edges are very bristly. The pinnae 
vary in length from three inches to half an inch. The head 
and pinnae are sometimes divided into two or more parts. 
The fronds are sometimes proliferous and the mid-stem is 
profusely covered with narrow scales. M. Thorncombe. 
52a. Laciniate A. F. Laciniatum. This resembles both 
the interrupted and dissimilar forms. It differs from the 
former in having a more leathery texture and less caudate 
pinnae. It differs from the latter in having its regular 
leaflets more elongate and pointed. It differs from both in 
having its regular leaflets less toothed and less bristled, and 
its irregular ones more laciniated or torn. Thorncombe ; 
Torde Abbey. 
52b. Cornute Laciniate A. P. Cornuto-laciniatum. The 
great distinction here is that the fronds have not only the 
character of the preceding but also terminate abruptly and 
are cornute. M. Axminster. 
53. The X or St. Andrew’s Cross A. F. WaTdeyanum, 
It is said that St. Andrew was crucified but not on the 
same kind of cross as that of our blessed Saviour. His 
resembled the large X used in print. A Fern has been 
found in this region, that has a portion of its frond which 
presents to our view St. Andrew’s Cross. A certain navvy, 
who had an eye to behold the beauties of Nature, (and why 
should not navvies and the humbler classes have a taste to 
admire the handy works of Grod as well as persons of higher 
rank ?) spied in a hedge near Axminster a pretty little 
Fern. .This is described in the first edition of “ The Ferns 
of the Axe ” as the Variable Fern. When, however, the 
plant more fully developed itself, at certain points of the 
mid-stem two little branches forked, and appeared just as 
if the letter X was cut in two. On the opposite side of the 
mid-stem was the same fork and thus there was St. 
Andrew’s Cross. Only at the very lowest part have we 
