able interest on account of its rarity. It forms a thick 
creeping stem or root-stock, from which a limited number of 
narrow, very upright fronds arise early in May, and attain 
the average height of ^ couple of feet. The fronds are 
destroyed in autumn by the frosts. Their outline is linear- 
oblong : that is, from a narrow width at the base the mar¬ 
gins run nearly parallel almost to the apex, where they 
narrow to the point; they are supported by a longish stipes* 
which is proportionally stout, and maintains tiro propor¬ 
tion upwards through the leafy portion of the frond j on 
the lower part it has a few scales, which are blunt ovate, 
membranous, and of a uniform light brown colour. The 
pinnae are elongate-triangular in their outline, the broadest 
occurring at the base of the frond, the upper e 
ing gradually narrower, but all of the s 
namely, widest at the base, gradually tapering to the apex. 
They are not divided quite down to their midrib, so as to 
become, in technical terms, pinnate, but each segment is at¬ 
tached by the entire width of its base, and connected by a 
narrow extension of its base with the segment next behind 
it - all the segments having their apices inclined rather to¬ 
wels the apex of the pinnae. The lobes of the pinnae arc 
^themselves oblong, with a rounded apex, and a crenately 
'toqthed margin. The midvein of the lobes takes a tortnoro 
course and gives off lateral branches which divide into , 
pnlsecondary brandies, one only of 
tiie apex of the lobe, bears a sorus. The fructification is 
ftt yifiTuni to the upper portion of the f 
