r pinnatifid, the lobes being sharply toothed 
v. liii-h 
r avy mid vein, from which proceed alternate veins. 
nae oftLis senes of veins, at some distance from the mar g in, 
is borne an oblong sorus. In the larger and more divided 
pinnules the veining is more compound. The son are them- ; 
selves oblong, a little curved, the basal ones usually hippo- 
crepiform or horse-shoe shaped; they are covered by indusia 
of the same f orm as^the soras,and in the case of the curved, 
almost circular with a lateral ^t^^wldch^tate^tTe^m^ 
bles a Lastrea. On one side the indusium is fixed longitudi¬ 
nally to the side of the vein which forms the receptacle; its 
other margin, which is fringed, or split into a number of 
hatr-likc segments, becomes free. Tins description applies , 
to the commoner forms of the Lady Fern, which, however, 
are very variable in size, according to the situation and cir¬ 
cumstances which influence their development, sometimes 
scarcely exceeding a foot in height, and at other times reach’ 
ing the height of four or five feet, the latter being the result 
of growth in a damp, shady situation, the former the conse¬ 
quence of a more exposed and drier locality. 
. The variety rhcettcum, sometimes called amvexum, differs 
m its fronds, its pinnae, and its pinnules being narrower or 
nmrower-looking than in the common forms. The fronds, 
winch seldom exceed two feet in height, are erect, and their 
form is narrow-lanceolate; the pinnae are taper-pointed: the 
K ales set quite clear of each other, very narrow, that is, 
r, with sharp points, the margins bluntly toothed, but 
rolled under so that very little of the toothing is seen ; the 
son are very often confluent It occurs in boggy places. 
me variety taiifolmm, also a very distinct and strong¬ 
growing form, differs from the common sort, in the elongate 
or oblong-lanceolate outline of its fronds, and in the broad, 
leafy, crowded development of its ovate irregularly lobed 
pinnules, which are deeply toothed at the margin, with the 
S^tmorSSl^ 811111568 ° fthe lobes * lij foQnd 
The variety marinnm has rather small fronds, usually 
alxmt a foot, or a foot and a half long, lanceolate, and re¬ 
markable for the manner in which they taper from their 
broad, centre, equally towards- the base and apex. These 
