92 
EEBXY combes. 
abounds on mountains—it is yet finer in sheltered 
valleys, where it attains a great size, rivalling the 
largest forms of Filix-mas: on exposed rockwork, 
or as a pot-plant, it generally dwindles to a few 
inches in height. 
Lastbea Filix-mas. Male Fern. 
Frond lance-shaped, twice divided; pinnules not 
stalked, separated one from another, serrated; sori 
medial, and not reaching to the points of the pin¬ 
nules ; stem pale ; scales very light brown. 
A common English Fern, but having so many 
varieties that it is often puzzling to beginners to 
find out the real Filix-mas. 
Yar. ixcisa. — The Incised Male Fern. —Fronds 
twice divided; pinnules occasionally stalked, deeply 
incised and again serrated; of a lax habit, often 
attaining the height of six feet. Sometimes the 
lower pinnae are so much developed and cleft as to 
tempt the young botanist to class it as a variety 
of Lastrea dilatata , rather than of Filix-mas. 
A form which seems identical with the var. di- 
chotoma is not uncommon; it is of smaller size than 
the normal plant; and while the fertile fronds are 
tolerably regular in form, the barren assume all 
sort of contortions, usually with double or treble 
points to the pinnae. 
