

156 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
the pinnulets being again serrated. The lowermost pinnules of each 
pinna are thus tolerably exact miniatures of the pinne of P. 
aculeatum, having their first pinnulets distinct auricled and serrated 
as are the pinnules in that species, while the upper ones, more or 
less confluent, closely resemble P. lobatum. The pinnules are gener- 
ally acute and spinosely serrate. The variety has been observed 
from—Antrim, Ireland, D. Moore. Cornwall: Penryn, G. Dawson. 
Devonshire: Ottery St. Mary, G. B. Wollaston. Somersetshire : 
Nettlecombe, C. Elworthy. Kent: Tunbridge Wells, Mrs. Dewes. 
Guernsey, C. Jackson. 
Mr. Jackson has found at Barnstaple a slender divided form, 
which may be mentioned here, under the provisional name of 
athyrioides, given to it by Mr. Wollaston. The pinnules are narrow, 
almost linear, deeply lobed, with a distinct anterior auricle. The 
lowest pinne of the frond are longest, and the pinnules on the 
posterior side of these are much larger and more divided than those 
on the anterior side. It requires further trial. 
36. proliferum (Woll.). This is perhaps the most beautiful, as 
it is certainly one of the most distinct varieties as yet known. 
Two forms have been discovered: One of these, that which has 
been longest known to cultivators, from having been distributed 
many years ago from Kew, was reported to have been found at 
Wimbledon; Surrey, by Mr. Choules, but of this we have specimens 
from Mr. Pamplin labelled Devonshire, on the authority of Mr. 
Choules, and suspect this to be the real habitat. The other [sub- 
var. Wollastoni] was found more recently near Ottery St. Mary, 
in Devonshire, by Mr. Wollaston, and is a more lax and elegant 
plant; andthe same has subsequently been found at Barnstaple 
by Mr. Jackson. The fronds are proliferous, bearing, chiefly at the 
point of junction of the pinne with the rachis, but sometimes in 
the axils of the pinnules, small bulbils from which young plants are 
readily obtained. Owing to its evergreen character, and its lax 
graceful habit, this is one of the most beautiful of hardy Ferns. 
When perfectly developed, especially in the case of the subvar. 
Wollastoni, the broad fronds are large tripinnate, drooping; the 
pinnules are narrowed and semi-depauperated, yet not distorted, 
but attenuated, very conspicuously stalked, distantly lobed, the 

