62 
THE MALE FERN. 
quite separate; the pinnse are narrow and tapering, 
with a few of the lowest pinnules distinct, the rest 
united at the base,— these pinnules of an obtusely 
oblong form and serrated, or notched, on the margin. 
The sori are usually confined to the lower half of the 
pinnules, but they are very crowded and abundant. 
This is one of the best of our Ferns to be studied 
in order to understand the fructification, for here the 
indusium, in almost fully developed fronds, is remark¬ 
ably prominent, closed over the spore-cases and seen 
to consist of a lead-coloured tumid kidney-shaped 
scale, which in due time is raised on one side for the 
dispersion of the spores. This may be seen by 
watching the fronds just as they are reaching their 
full growth. The veins also of this species are very 
manifest, each pinnule having a flexuous midvein, 
with alternate venules, simple, forked, or sometimes 
three-branched in different parts of the pinnule, the 
three-branched occurring at the base and the un¬ 
branched at the apex. The sori are borne on the 
branch toward the apex of the pinnule and form a 
line of dots on each side of the mid-vein and at a 
little distance from it. 
The variety L. incisa is a magnificent Fern, growing 
much larger than the commoner typical form of the 
plant, with the same general features, only larger in 
every part, its pinnules, more elongated and tapering, 
more deeply cut along their margins, the branchings 
of its venules more numerous, and its sori covering a 
larger surface, reaching almost to the apex of the 
pinnules. Another variety, L. F.-mas var. joaleacea 
