LASTBEA. 
Ill 
the upper portion of the frond, and often remarkably so ; 
less frequently it extends downwards to the pair of pinnse 
next above the basal ones. The spots of spore-cases are 
covered by a kidney-shaped scale or indusium, having an 
entire margin, and become mature in August and Sep- 
tember. 
This species occurs only on boggy heaths, and that in 
but few places in Britain, confined, we believe, to the 
following counties : — Nottinghamshire, Cheshire, Norfolk, 
and Suffolk. It is easily cultivated, either in a pot, or 
planted in a damp somewhat shady situation, and prefers 
a peaty soil. 
The variety uliginosa, the A. uligmosa of Newman, is 
exactly intermediate in its general appearance and its 
characters between cristata and spinulosa — these three 
plants agreeing, in their erect habit, pallid blunt scales, 
and creeping caudex. This Fern forms a stout creeping 
crown or root-stock, having a tendency to multiply by 
lateral offshoots. The stipes has ovate pallid scales. The 
fronds grow nearly erect to the height of from two to three 
feet ; and these erect fronds bear the fructification. Other 
fronds, however, are produced, which are barren, and do 
not grow so erect, nor put on the same form as the fertile 
