THE SOFT PRICKLY SHIELD FERN. 153 
some instances only an occasional characteristic frond, in others 
yielding them more freely. Itis rather lax in habit. When well 
marked, the lower half of the pinne are furnished with tolerably 
perfect pinnules, which are linear and only here and there and then 
strongly auricled ; then come a few abortive pinnules, and finally a 
confluent linear lobate-serrate apex. The upper third of the frond 
resembles a whole frond of confluens (29), the uppermost pinne 
being entirely confluent as in that form. . The pinnules are here and 
there and very irregularly depauperated, and the large anterior 
basal pinnule is by no means constant. In some fronds the whole 
of these basal pinnules are excessively depauperated; so as to be all 
but entirely wanting. The more normal-looking fronds occasionally 
produced, sometimes have the pinnules ovate auriculate, and toothed 
in the way of biserratum, or, sometimes narrowly oblong with a large 
auricle, approaching nearer to the characteristic state. Mr. James, 
by whom the variety has been cultivated in the mild climate of 
Guernsey, remarks, that of the two kinds of fronds, the narrow or 
characteristic ones are most numerous, while the broader ones are of 
autumn growth. In cases like this, it not unfrequently happens that 
the characteristic development is checked by division or by repotting 
or by some disturbance of the root, or of the conditions of growth, 
and gradually returns as the plants become established. This 
variety is of Devonshire origin, and was found by Mr. C. Jackson. 
[Plate XX E.] 
29. confluens (M.). A curious dwarf semidepauperated variety, but 
symmetrical, the pinne being uniformly affected. The fronds are 
ovate-lanceolate, attenuated at the apex, scarcely bipinnate, the 
lower anterior pinnules only being developed, and these forming a 
conspicuous row on each side the rachis; beyond this the pinnules 
are more or less depauperated, often wedge-shaped, subauriculate, 
or aristate, and soon becoming confluent into a linear lobate- 
serrated apex. The upper pinn® are entirely confluent, becoming 
linear-faleate in outline, with a strong anterior auricle, and serrated. 
It was found in Ireland by Mr. S. Foot, and was communicated by 
Mr. D. Moore. Mr. Elworthy has found near Nettlecombe in 
Somersetshire, a somewhat similar variety; and another analogous 
form has been found at Torquay. [Plate XXVI. ] 

