68 
are smaller than those of the regular form. The under 
surface of the frond is of a paler green colour. This 
deserves notice, as in the other forms there is no difference. 
Newman says, “The fronds are narrow-lanceolate.” Moore 
says, “ Broad-lanceolate.” Our specimens are truly lance- 
shaped. In a fine group they are sometimes five feet high. 
The mid-rib of the pinnae are more or less tinged with pur- 
ple, and often there is a purple spot at their base. If this 
variety were placed in some of our wild neglected spots, 
especially if the ground be moist, and made an undergrowth 
to our wooded slopes, this golden coloured wilding would 
convert naked and unpicturesque hills into the most romantic 
and lovely scenery. 
This form of the Male Fern is found in many of our wet 
woods ; whosoever searches for it, should particularly look 
out for the golden coloured scales, which so abundantly 
cover the stalk and root- stock. 
Daek-scaled Feen. Lastrea dilatata. 
See page 26. 
Diminutive Dark-scaled Fern. Fumila, In describing 
the parts of a Fern, (page 6) the Dark-scaled Fern, Lastrea 
dilatata^ was selected as presenting an illustration of a tri- 
pinnate frond. This variety differs from the ordinary form, 
inasmuch as it is only bipinnate, ^. e. no leaflet of any 
pinna is distinctly branched. The scales are very light, 
and only faintly darker in the centre. The frond itself has 
an almost triangular outline. The plant is scarcely a foot 
high. The leaflets are broad at their extremities and 
coarsely toothed. It is found in our shady woods and 
hedge-banks, in rather dry elevated situations, in a wood at 
Lambert’s Castle in Hawkchurch parish, at Wiscombe Park 
in Southleigh, Forde Abbey, &c. 
CoMMOi^ Peickly FEE^". Folysticliwm aculeatum. 
See page 33. 
Lobed Prickly Fern. Lohatwn, In the Common Prickly 
Fern there are auricles (little ears) to many leaflets of a 
